EARLIEST CHURCH IN HARTFORD

The begin the history of Shiloh Baptist Church we must tell you of the conditions in southeast Alabama in the 1840s as told by Dr. A. Hamilton in his book The History of Alabama Baptist. Southeast Alabama was the last large general area to be settled by white immigrants. The United States government made a treaty with the Creek Indians, who inhabited this area, for their removal to the West (South Alabama had its own trail of tears.). The treaty did not force their immediate removal, neither did it permit the white settlers to claim land occupied by the Indians. However, immediately following the signing of the treaty, the whites began to move into the area looking for land. Some of the Indians resented the treaty and strongly resisted the incoming whites. They organized into groups and roamed through the wilderness destroying white settlements and killing the settlers. This caused much pain in the area until the state and federal governments sent troops to suppress the rebellious Indians and force their removal. 

This part of Alabama at that time was a vast region with fertile soil, covered with virgin 

pine, and was alluring to the whites looking for land. Into this region came Baptist missionaries from the Bethlehem Association with the message of the Gospel. They preached to the Indians wherever they were received and to the scattered white settlements. 

The Alabama Baptist began its publication in Marion, Alabama, in 1843. The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 18-5 at Augusta, Georgia. The Foreign Mission Board was organized in 1848, and about this same time the Home Mission Board was organized in Marion, Alabama. Howard College, now Samford University, had its first graduation class in 1848. The Sandy Creek Association was organized in 1877. In 1887, the name was changed to The Geneva County Baptist Association. 

The war between the states began in 1861 and ended in 1865. While the shooting war ended with Lee's surrender in 1865, federal troops were not fully removed from the south until April 1887. It took many years for a war-torn and ravished country to fully recover. Before I talk about the church, I need to tell you something about this community. We don't know how or when the Dundee community began. Dundee was one of the earliest towns in what is now Geneva County. It is located about two miles northeast of Hartford, Alabama. 

How did Dundee get its name? According to Mr. A.S. Peacock, there was a circus that came through this area. They brought their own hay for the animals. This hay had a sand spur mixed in it. These sand spurs germinated in abundance and spread throughout this area. They were called the Dundee Sand Spur. 

We dont really know whether the community was named after the sand spur or the sand spur was named after the community. The original layout was where the streets basically run north, south, east, and west. The roads within this community are in about the same place they were over one hundred years ago. Current names given these streets and avenues are: Shiloh Road. Friendship Lane; Peacock Road; Foster Clark Road; Loveless Street; Creel Street; Dundee Road; and Highway 123. You will note that some of these streets bear the name of early settlers. 

The town once had at least seven stores, a saloon, barber shop, calaboose, blacksmith shop, policeman, post office, turpentine still, “four churches,” a school, and street lights. Among the stores were Wards, Thomas, Ogburn, Bateman, Lee, Clark, and Van. As history has it, these stores carried almost everything from pins to sewing machines, plow points to plows. 

Very little is known about these stores. We do know William S. Burton was appointed postmaster for Dundee on December 14, 1880. He remained the postmaster until November 20, 1895, when the post office was moved to the town of Clemmons, now known as Hartford. He was transferred to the new location and remained there until June 25, 1897, when William EF. Clemmons was appointed as his replacement. 

The four churches were Missionary Baptist, Methodist, Primitive Baptist and Holiness. We do know that the missionary Baptist church was known as the Baptist Church of Dundee and was located exactly where it remains as Shiloh Baptist Church today. The primitive baptist was known as Mount Moriah and was located on what is now Alabama Highway 123 on the north side of Dundee. The methodist church was located at the intersection of Creel Street and Shiloh Road (Some think it was located across the street from where Shiloh Baptist church stands today). The holiness church was located near Alabama Highway 123. 

John Hollon served as policeman for many years. He was a one-man police force; however, he needed deputies on pay day at the “Still.” Ernest Ogburn served as barber, while William (Bill) S. Burton was both postmaster and nurse. He was appointed postmaster on December 14, 1880. The Atlanta Constitution served as the newspaper, and came once a week. Grimsley operated the “Still” which produced tar, pitch, rosin, and turpentine. Bill McGriff ran the commissary. There were other naval stores. Some remember talk about a skating rink located in the community. 

Dr. William Cox was the town physician while his son, Jesse, was a well-informed politician. Mrs. James Hinson was an “herb” doctor, and active in Mount Moriah Church, of which J.J. Collins, a primitive baptist preacher, once served as pastor. Russ Blount was an active blacksmith, and well known for his rugged honesty. Dr. J.G. Austin served as principal of the school, while Dr. M.A. Creel was a noted veterinarian and singer. Among other active leaders were: R.E. Loveless, merchant, A.C. Anderson, teacher, Reverend J.R. Peacock, J.A. Kinsaul, H.E. McElvain, W.J. Hardy, W.E. Sammons, James Pritchett, and Omer Peacock. 

As you can see, Dundee was a well-established community. People coming to this area began to settle in and around Dundee. These newcomers began clearing the virgin timber, developing fertile farmland, and providing an agricultural community. Most families depended on the land for their livelihood. This fertile soil, four churches, and a school made Dundee a very desirable place to live and raise a family. In the early days, the churches at Wesley Chapel, Hurricane, and Pond Town desired to build a parsonage for their pastor and W.F. Clemmons was sent to Dundee to buy a lot since it was the only important town in the area. But he found the price too high and secured one where Hartford now stands. Therefore, “Clemmons City” was begun immediately in 1895. The location of this property is on West Main Street, where the City Bank of Hartford now stands. 

When the railway came, they also failed to buy land in Dundee, and it came by Hartford. The town of Hartford was incorporated in 1897, two years after Mr. W.E Clemmons purchased land for the three Methodist churches to have a parsonage. The train was needed; not only to transport the timber products, but it also would provide much needed transportation as there were very few automobiles. Primary transportation was by mule and wagon. Therefore, it became necessary to build a railroad from Dothan, Alabama. What happened to Dundee? It should be noted, on November 20, 1895, the post office 

was moved to Hartford with William S. Burton continuing as postmaster. 

Two years after the Methodist churches purchased land for the parsonage, a new town was incorporated (Hartford). Had land been made available for the church parsonage and the railroad come through Dundee, what would Dundee be like today? 

There would be no Hartford.