Appleton Church Of Christ

A copy of the deed to the property, on which the church building stand today, hangs in a glass frame in the building. The frame was hand made and furnished by Bro. Jack Couch.

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This is an attempt to give the history of the Church in the Appleton community ca. 1880 In 1910, Oscar Crowder and wife deeded to Mr. A. Conway, Mr. B. H. Hendrix an, T. C. Crower, Elders of the Appleton Church of Christ, land on which a meeting house for the church was to be built. Prior to this, possibly as far back as 1893, the church had met in the Appleton School House and had held tent meetings.

Mr. Henry Warren was the carpenter that supervised the building of the one story frame house. Many families donated logs for lumber and time to work on the building. Some of the names mentioned are as follows: Brown, Buffalo, Cole, Coffinan, Conway, Crowder, Goar, Green, Harrison, Hendrix, Littrell, and Warren.

When the building was completed, Mr. Jim Warren gave the bell for the tower. I might add this bell is still used at every church service today. Mrs. Mollie Dobbins gave a rocking chair for use as needed for the elderly and to rock babies. Mr. E. L. Buffalo built the table to use for the Lord's Supper; this table is still here in the Primary class room.

In 1954, Bros. E. O. Coffinan and Gilbert Gibbs compiled a booklet of the Churches of Christ in Lawrence County, Tennessee. This is all that was written about Appleton:

CHURCH	PROPERTY	MEMBERSHIP
1910	$10,000	150

Each family has a copy of the account published by Gordon Turner in The Nashville Tennessean newspaper in 1950. There is possibly an error in the paragraph naming the Elders. At this time, B. H. Hendrix was not living.

This building is still used today but there have been a few changes. One of which was made due to the change in the road to keep the branch from overflowing and flooding the church ground and building. The rostrum or pulpit was moved to the opposite end of the auditorium, thus changing ends for the entrance to the building. Double doors were added at the entrance and also new steps. In 1955, the auditorium got a new look. The pine ceiling had turned dark with age and smoke from a coal heater, so a finish of sheet rock with a wainscoting of pine paneling and an over head ceiling of tile was done. New seats were also purchased this year.

A well was drilled in 1972, and rest rooms and a vestibule were added to the front or south end of the auditorium. The supervising carpenter for these two jobs was Bro. Jack Couch. A baptistery was installed behind the rostrum in 1979. In order to have enough room for this and two dressing rooms, the old class rooms had to be used. Work was already begun on the building of three new class rooms on the east side of the building. It was also necessary to have a hall between the building and the class rooms.

Now the auditorium is carpeted, the pews are padded, and the building is comfortable with central heating and cooling.

One big event takes place at Appleton Church of Christ annually. This is homecoming day on the third Sunday in May. Members who have worshiped here in the past and have moved away come for the Sunday morning worship, bring a basket lunch, spread it on the table under the shed at noon, and enjoy fellowship in eating, reminiscing, and then congregating once again inside for an hour or so of gospel singing. Bro. J. T. Harris was the speaker for this occasion until his death. Now Bro. James Aldon Hendrix does the honors.

Before the Church of Christ was organized at Appleton, there was a record of a roll of the Puncheon Church of Christ in Giles County, Tennessee, that has some of the Crowders, Coffmans, Conways, Boyds, Buffaloes, Couchs, Hendrixs, and Warrens named there. This was in about 1886. So we think from this account the Church had not been established at Appleton yet. The names of persons serving as Elders are as follows:

THE FIRST ELDERS
Buddie {Bud} Brown
A. {Bud} Conway
T. C. Crowder
B. H. Hendrix

THE SECOND ELDERS
E. L. Buffalo
Oscar Crowder

THE THIRD ELDERS
Onus {O. J.} Boyd
James D. Hendrix

THE PRESENT ELDERS
William K. {Jack} Couch
Curtis A. Newbern


DEACONS

M. D. Harrison	also serving as treasurer {moved away}
Dee Bassham
Hagan Russell
Edd Goar	also serving as treasurer
Woodard D. Pierce
L. D. Chapman	served as treasurer only
W. K. Couch	served as treasurer
Thomas R. Newbern	also served as treasurer before moving away

The Last Deacons Were Appointed in 1979

Bob Boyd	still serving
Floyd Burgess	{Died Feb. 1981}
Patrick {Pat} Ezell	still serving

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EARLIEST EVANGELIST TO PREACH AT APPLETON WERE AS FOLLOWS:

Sherman Kelly
R. N. Moody {author of book Eunice Lloyd}
John Kelly
J. C. Hollis
J. T. Harris
J. E. Thornberry
T. C. King
Ernest Coffman
Wm. H. Behel
Everett {E. O.} Coffman
C. T. Holt
Alfred Elmore

If there was a roll or record of the membership of the Appleton Church of Christ from the beginning, it has been lost. My mother, Mrs. Ethel Hendrix, who is now 91 years old, remembers from about 1910. The things she told about who some of the early members and officials were, has also been confirmed by Misses Lola and Dura Littrell, who were young ladies at this time and remember coming from near Five Points, Tennessee, in a wagon with their parents to worship there before the building was erected.

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SOME OF THE EARLIEST MEMBERS WERE AS FOLLOWS:

George Coffman
B. H. Hendrix
Aunt Kate Balch
Jennie Coffman
Mary Boston Hendrix
T. C. Crowder, Sr.
J. L. Hendrix
Eliza Conway Crowder
Florence Boston Hendrix
A. {Bud} Conway
J W. Littrell
Mary Conway
Ella McMasters Littrell
E. L. Buffalo
Oscar Crowder
Dee Buffalo
S. E. {Betty} Crowder
Jim Crowder
Moilie Dobbins
Etta Brown Crowder
Melissa Couch Norwood
Bud Brown
Marvin Harrison
Clara Brown
Lola Crowder Harrison
T. B. {Byrd} Hendrix
Onus {O. J} Boyd
Lola Burch Hendrix
Ethel Crowder Boyd
James D. Hendrix
Ethel Stinnett Hendrix

NOTE: There may have been others forgotten.

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SOME YEARS LATER OTHER NAMES WERE AS FOLLOWS (not in alphabetical order):

Bennie Akins
Kathleen Boyd Akins
Willard Akins
Rosa Bell Hines Akins
Loyce Bailey
Corene Moore Bailey
VIva Leigh Bailey Ridgeway
Lawrence {Bill} Bailey
Marie Bailey Clinard
Delaine Bailey McConnell
Bill Barrows
Sandy Barrows
Tommy Barrows
John Bal
Gillie Phillips Balch
Agnes Balch
Hurbert Boyd
VIrgie Boyd
Thomas {Tom} Boyd
Sybrina Williams Boyd
Alva Mae Boyd Colwatt
Kenneth Colwatt
Betty J. Boyd Thompson
Bill Boyd
Dena Boyd
Bob Boyd
Linda Harrison Boyd
Steven Boyd
Lumus Bailey
Laura Bailey Glossup
Vertie Bailey Hooie
Lonie Hooie
Virginia Conway
Will Conway
Lillie Coffman Gallian
Ernest Coffman
Everett Coffman
Matilda Coffman
Crabb Shadix
Edna Buffalo Warren
Elsie Buffalo Hendrix
William {Bill} Buffalo
Tessie Buffalo Hendrix
Jack Buffalo
Ethel Cates Buffalo
Mary Buffalo Green
John Buffalo
Christine Bonner Buffalo
Rebecca Burgess
Vera Burgess Clinard
Jim Burgess
Emma McCafferty Burgess
Rick Burgess
Gracie McCafferty Burgess
Etha Burgess Ray
Floyd Burgess
Mauvernell Forsythe Burgess
Ted Boyd
Pamela Davis Boyd
Marty Ray Thompson
Linda Brooks
Willa Mae Burgess
Hattie Will Burgess Foust
Dee Bassham
Pearlie Ridgeway Bassham
J. D. Bassham
Madeline Council Bassham
Marcellus Burch
Lucy Williams Burch
J. Y Clinard
Vernon Clinard
Bessie Jones Clinard
Gaylon Clinard
Mrs. Gaylon Clinard
Shirley Clinard
Maudie Clinard
Ella Clinard Wright
Irene Clinard Robertson
Allie Clinard
Alma Clinard Wisdom
Willie Clinard
M. B. {Mac} Carter
Effie Morrison Carter
Elmer Chapman
Mary Crowder Chapman
Bernice Chapman Bailey
J. M. Chapman
Velma Shelton Chapman
Mary Frances Chapman
Aunt {Dess} Hammond
Wade Hammond
Eloise Crowder Fowler
T. C. {Teek} Crowder
Bob A Crowder
Rhona Crowder Warren
Jessie Council
Vonia Council
Katy Rosson Cox
Terry Cox
Willie {Buck} Chambers
Louise Dendy Chambers
Sandra Burgess McCree
P. Dianne Burgess
Denise K. Burgess
Dessie Burgess Smith
Hurbert Burgess
Margie Burgess
Bobby Chapman
Billy Chapman
Louise Hendrix Chapman
Paul Chapman
Geraldine Chapman Evans
Lester Chapman
Nora Dobbins Chapman
Auvie Chapman
Westelle Chapman Nelson
Flora Tucker Chapman
{Jack} W. K. Couch
Mildred Chapman Couch
Jimmie Couch
Margaret Powell Couch
Karen Couch
June Couch Reedy
Vestile Clifton Pierce
Iva Appleton Couch
Christine Couch Raines
Geneva Couch Davis
Orlean Couch Cole
Virgil Crowder
Lucille Crowder
Raymond Crowder
Kenneth Crowder
Edith Crowder McCrory
W. O. Crowder, Jr.
Samuel {Sam} Fain
Lillie Owens Davis
Gloria D. {Deedie} Ridgeway Durham
Franklin {Bud} Durham
Kelly Durham
Lena Davis Jones
Reavis Ezell
Marie Konig Ezell
Patrick {Pat} Ezell
Faye Springer Ezell
Angelia Ezell Peters
Virginia Davidson
Edna Cates Williams
Eloise Davis
T. J. {Buster} Davis
Bertha Ridgeway Davis
Clifford Davis
Robert E. Davis
Ruth E. Johnson Davis
Pearlie Davis
Joan Davis
Wayne Davis
Bradford Davis
Jimmy Davis
Bobbie Ruth Davis
John Davis
Mrs. John Davis
Velma Davis
Matilda Davis
William {Bill} Faulkenberry
Laura Gallian
Andrew {Uncle Andy} Freeman
Ethel Warren Freeman
Gertrude Freeman Warren
E. M. Goar
Tinie {Shannon} Goar
Henry Goar
Arthur Gallian
Glenn Gallian
Elbert Gallian
Clara Sills Gallian
Ishamel Garrett
Lena Glass
Sulah Glass Roberts
Van Glass
Mrs. Van Glass
Warren Glass, Sr.
Blondina Mewbourne Glass
Orlean Glass
Etta Green
Irene Green Bass
Opal Green Warren
Ruby Green Morrison
VIrginia Harrison Dobbs
Timothey {Tim} Ezell
Wallace Ezell
Betsy Jones Ezell
Neil Ezell
Kaye Ezell
Helen Ezell Quillen
Janice Ezell Allen
Gary Ezell
John Forsythe
Opal Glass Forsythe
Allene Forsythe White
Dorothea Forsythe
Hurbert {Buster} Forsythe
Oleta White Forsythe
Mauveline Forsythe Ridgeway
VIrginia Forsythe Rosson
Wilma Forsythe Ridgeway
Mary Belle Fain Sills
Frances Harrison Ridgeway
Joyce M. Harrison Chandler
VIola Harrison Powell
Felix Hendrix
Vera Morrison Hendrix
Elizabeth Hendrix Sills
John E. Hendrix
Cecil Hendrix
George W. Hendrix
Gracie Warren Hendrix
Charles Hendrix
James Dudley Hendrix
Hazel Hendrix Tramel
Hugh Edward Hendrix
E. Lois Hendrix Chance
Dee Hendrix
Hattie Tucker Hendrix
Delmer Hendrix
Bessie King Hendrix
Fannie Hendrix Oliver
Linnie Hendrix Plott
Eula Jane Hendrix
Roy Hendrix
Netter Hendrix Wray
Willow Mae Hendrix
Mabel Hendrix Newbern
Buren Harrison
Ruby Rosson Harrison
Judy Harrison Townsend
Larry Harrison
Geanine {Jean} Hendrix Brooks
Leon Hendrix
Billy Gene Hendrix
Eudine Hendrix
P. Houston Howard
Eunice Howard
Rose Lee Howard
Tommie Hood
Annie S. Hood
Ernest Hood
Betty Lou Hood
Ruth Hood
Eugene Hood
William {Bill} Hood
Jess Hood
Mrs. Jess Hood
Sallie Hood
T. J. {Bud} Hood
Ollie Phillips Hood
Irene Hood McGill
Lillie Hood Russell
Blanche Hood
Elizabeth hood Keeton
Estell Hood Fox
Mable Hood Shelton
Rudolph Howell
Edgar Littrell
Alberta Littrell
Lola Littrell
Dura Littrell
Lewis McCrory
Coleman McGill
Paul McGill
Henry Ford McGill
Thomas Monroe
Blanche Warren Monroe
Donnie Monroe
Kenneth Monroe
Rawleigh Morrison
Jessie Morrison
Viva Lee Hendrix Peppers
James Aldon Hendrix
Sarah J. Hendrix Walters
Robert F. Hendrix
Lonnie Hooie
Junior Hooie
Paul Hooie
Eula Inman
Dena Johnson Pierce
Robert E. Jones
Minnie Owens Jones
J. M. Jones
Betty Pearl Jones
David Jones
Jo Ann Pfuffner Jones
Linnie Dawn Jones Williams
Opal Jones
Leslie Konig
Margie Konig
Joe Konig
Billy Konig
Martha Konig Gallian
Bessie Kelly Belue
Wilburn Kelly
Willa Mae Kelly McConnell
Wtlma Kelly
George A. Lovell
M. B. Lefan
Mrs. M. B. Lefan
Flavel Lefan
Janie Lefan
W. K. {Sonny} McCrory
Ethel Littrell Creek
F Ornie Littrell
Louise Brown Oliver
Larimore Oliver
Wendell Oliver
Elizabeth {Sis} Oliver Bailey
Charles Oliver
W. D. Pierce
Lida Hammond Pierce
Gladys Pierce
Laura Lou Pierce Barrow
Marvenell {Cricket} Pierce
Betty Joice Morrison
Homer Mosley
Frances Wade Mosley
Curtis Newbern
Thomas R. Newbern
Joan F. Newbern
{Tony} Anthony Newbern
Judith White Newbern
Henry Nolan
N. Mae Nolan
Jerry Nolan
Henry Nolan, Jr.
Frances Nolan
Ella P. Noland
Perry Oliver
Mary Etta Oliver
J. L. Oliver
Frank Rosson
Patricia Rosson
Carol Rosson Gillespie
Peggy Rosson Townsend
T. D. Rosson
Idell Rosson Ridgeway
Iva Dell Rosson White
Larry {Pinky} Ridgeway
Jo Ann Ridgeway
Linda Ridgeway Boyd
Debbie Kay Ridgeway
Harold {Rip} Ridgeway
Jay Ridgeway
Rita Faye Dixon Ridgeway
Tammy Ridgeway
Willie {Peanut} Ridgeway
Howard Ridgeway
Barry Ridgeway
Kimberly {Kim} Ridgeway
J. B. Ridgeway
Gary Ridgeway
Janice Ridgeway
Angela Ridgeway Cox
Cindy Ridgeway
{Buster} Ridgeway
Jennie Glass Ridgeway
Patterson {Pat} Ridgeway
Ethridge Pierce
Deena Johnson Pierce
Talmage {Babe} Pierce
Cecil Pierce
Lillie Mae Wade Pierce
L. S. Pierce
B. R. Pierce
Mrs. Josie Pierce
Willie Plott
Harold Dean Plott
Johnnie C. Phillips
Callie Phillips
Kenneth Phillips
Paul Powell
Donnie Powell
Joe Reedy
Michael Reedy
Sharon Rosson
Rita Faye Rosson Springer
Eugene Smith
J. Daniel {Dan} Springer
Brown Sills
Collie Sills
Lee Sills
Collis Shelton
Nola White Shelton
Dovie Shelton
Dallas Shelton
Jessie Mae Monroe Townsend
Edward {Bud} Townsend
Ray Townsend
Vickie Lynn Townsend
H. H. Warren
Sarah Ruth Warren
Doris Ann Warren Ridgeway
Jeanine {Jean} Warren
Mason Warren
Butler Warren
J. A. Warren
Elwood Warren
Oscar Lee Warren
Marie Warren
Betty Lou Warren
Frances Warren
Leo Ridgeway
Woodrow Ridgeway
Wilkie Roberts
Donald Roberts
Jessie Stevens
Lillie Warren
E. H. Warren
Gertrude Freeman Warren
Charles Warren
Althea Warren Bonner
James Warren
Esterline Warren Rosson
Burnie D. Warren Kelley
Laura Weigart {Whitt}
Joe Wray
Ona Belle Wray
Granville Wray
Alton Wray
Iva Dean Wray
Ruth Wray
Jimmie Lou Wray
Mary Jo Wray
Jackie Wray
Wayne Wray
Porter Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Pauline Warren
Betty Jim Warren
D. W. Warren
Raymond Wray
Linnie G Wray
Grant Word
Allison Gambel
Mrs. Allison Gambel
Will Gambel
{Nanny} Gambel
Robert {Bob} Gambel
Eula Owens Gambel
Jim Zills
Maggie Zills
Conway Zills
Ovie Zills
Bulah Zills Newton
Billy Gene Chapman {Hazel's son}
Lois Lane Gallian Brown
Jonah Howard
Ernestine {Dick} Townsend
James Russell
Hegan Russell

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Appleton has had many evangelists:

Records of some meetings show:

Earnest Coffinan	August 4, 1935
Luther Weathers	July 31, 1936
J. E. Thornberry	August 8, 1937
J. T. Harris	August, 1938
Doyle Banta	1946
Andy Brown	July, 1967
W. C. Quillen	August, 1968
Glann Lee	July, 1969
Tom Holland	July, 1970
James Aldon Hendrix	July, 1971
Bruce Tetreau	July, 1972
Tom Holland	July, 1973
Andy Brown	July, 1974
W. C. Quillen	July, 1975
GGlann Lee July	1976
James Aldon Hendrix	July, 1977
Tom Holland	July, 1978
Bruce Tetreau	July, 1979
Andy Brown	July, 1980
Gilbert Kretzer	July, 1981

Working with the church weekly: some evangelists were:

D. B. Noles	1936
E. O. Coffman
Donald Lumpkins
Larry Murdock	1967
Gary Poland	part time
Kenneth Weldon	1968 - 1970
Terrel Pitts	1971 - 1972
Danny Pettus	1973 - Jan.- Dec.
Terrell Lee	1973 {every other Sunday}
Phillip Hines	part of 1975
Jeff Roberson	as fill in 1975 - part of 1976
Tom Leavins	May,1976 - November 1976
James Joyce	November, 1976 - July, 1977
Delaine Speegle	1977 - April, 1978
Horace Stutts	1978 - May 1980
Russell Dickerson	1980 - still evangelist at present time

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Ministers going out from Appleton Congregation:

Everett Coffinan
Aldon Hendrix
Ernest Coffman
Delmer Hendrix
Samuel Fain
Robert Hendrix
M. F. Norwood {was born at Appleton and started to school here}
Tom Holland preached his first sermon at Appleton.

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Some of the Sunday School teachers have been as follows:

Jim Crowder
Mildred Couch
Gary Ridgeway
Oscar Crowder
Willow Mae Hendrix
J. B. Ridgeway
Edgar Littrell
Willie Williams
Jackie Wray
Samuel Fain
VIrginia Rosson
Joe Reedy
Lewis McCrory
Gloria R. Durham
June Reedy
Edith McCrory
Mabel Newbern
Curtis Newbern
Martha Gallian
Donnie Powell
Marie Ezell
Pamela Boyd

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The present teachers are:

Curtis Newbern Adults
Bob Boyd and Pat Ezell Seniors
Linda Boyd Juniors
Faye Ezell
Rita Springer Primary
Angela Peters

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Song leaders: We now have the following who lead in the song services:

Harold Ridgeway
J. B. Ridgeway
Bob Boyd
Franklin Durham
Curtis Newbern
W. K. {Jack} Couch
and two teenagers of whom we are very proud, Steven Boyd and Kelly Durham.

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Compiled by: Mabel Hendrix Newbernn
Typist ---------: Linda Harrison Boyd

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Revised: (none)  ➤