History of Santa Rosa County, A King's County
by M. Luther King. Used with permission.
CHURCH HISTORY OF SANTA ROSA COUNTY
MILTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
This is another of those sketches in a series of source materials on
the history of Milton. This one comes to me from Hon. T. Franklin West,
Milton attorney, in the form of a cooperative cookbook published by the
Ladies Aid Society of the Presbyterian Church in Milton. The title page
reads: Souvenir Cook Book compiled by the Ladies Aid Society of the Presbyterian
Church, Milton, Florida. As a sort of preamble there are a few pages in
the front of the book titled: "History of Milton Presbyterian Church -Milton,
Santa Rosa County, Florida."
I have copied the last-named material above verbatim. The date-line of
the publisher on the cover of this book is 1906. The printer is given
as The News Book and Job Print, Pensacola, Florida.
HISTORY OF MILTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida
"In April, 1866, Rev. J. N. Lewis, in passing on his way to Pensacola
stopped at Bagdad and Milton, preaching once at each place. After leaving
for Pensacola, he received a written invitation to return and labor for
them. Believing the field to be a promising one for usefulness, and feeling
his need of a warmer climate, he promised to come and settle among them.
"in December, 1866, he moved from Alabama to Bagdad, Florida, and commenced
preaching regularly, and at Milton occasionally, as our Methodist and
Baptist brethren could spare the use of their houses of worship, which
they very kindly did for over a year.
"Mr. Lewis taught school in Bagdad, to aid in making a support, in addition
to his other labors for several months; but as most of the population
lived in and around Milton, he felt it very important that we should have
a house of our own. "After much thought, consultation and prayer, he determined
in face of any difficulties to make the effort to build. In order to give
himself to this ,work, he gave up his school and commenced by making an
appeal for aid through the papers, and personally by letter. This did
not promise to bring in sufficient funds to enable us to go forward. In
February, 1868, he went to Mobile and New Orleans to ask aid in person.
In Mobile he obtained in cash and ,material, $535. In New Orleans he received
$115, and from other points $27. 'His expenses were $31.25, leaving $645.75
to be applied to the building. In March, 1868, we began to build. (J.
W. Bishop was the builder.)
The First Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1868, had as its first
pastor, Rev. J.N. Lewis.
"On August 14, 1868, Rev. J. N. Lewis preached the first sermon in the
new house, at night. Saturday, August 15, The First Presbyterian Church
of Milton was organized, consisting of twenty-eight members, viz:
"Received by certificate from Bagdad: Dr. Zepheniah Swift, James A. Chaffin,
Mrs. Victoria V. Chaffin, Mrs. Harriet Keyser, Mrs. Susan Simpson, and
Mrs. Lauretta Fisher.
"Received on profession by J. N. Lewis previously: William J. Keyser,
Mrs. Kate Monroe, Fannie Cater, Sophronia McKee, Mary A. W. Monroe, J.
L. Mayo, Mrs. Eliza Cary, and Rebecca Jones.
"Received by letter from other churches: Mr. Alexander Monroe, Mrs. Jane
Monroe, Mr. W. D. Monroe, Miss Sallie A. Monroe, Mrs. Catherine McMillan,
Mrs. S. S. Peters, Mrs. Martha Farrar, Mrs. George Marquis, Mrs. Mary
B. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. E. J. Lewis, Mr. Alexander McRae, Mrs. Mary McRae,
Mr. E. R. Corry, and Mr. A. S. Commyns.
"There were twenty-eight charter members.
"Mr. Alexander Monroe was elected ruling Elder in the new church; he
had been previously ordained elsewhere.
[Picture Missing]
First Presbyterian Church (Present Day)
Dr. Zepheniah Swift was elected ruling Elder. Mr. W. D. Monroe and James
A. Chaffin were elected and ordained as deacons of this church. On Sunday
the 16th of August, 1868, the dedication sermon was given by the Rev.
W. A. Caster of Pensacola. The Rev. J. N. Lewis said to the Church, the
congregation standing, 'You, the Presbyterian Church and congregation
of Milton do now in this public and solemn manner, set apart this house
from all secular and worldly uses to the above services of Almighty God
to be used for His worship only, in all the ways of His appointed ordinances
to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you do now dedicate this house as a meeting
place between God and His dear people forever, praying that his blessing
may rest upon it, and upon all who may ever meet here to worship Him.'
"
"Also Rev. J. N. Lewis offered the Dedicatory Prayer, returning our hearty
thanks to God for His goodness, and asking His acceptance of the labor
of our hands, and imploring His presence and blessing upon house and people,
saying, 'May this house and church long remain a monument to the praise
and glory of God, Amen.' "
The Trustees of the Milton Presbyterian Church were appointed as follows:
W. J. Keyser, W. D. Monroe, and Zepheniah Swift.
Mr. Lewis resigned the charge of Milton Presbyterian Church December
2, 1885, but continued to live at Bagdad.
Rev. C. P. Walker supplied the pulpit from July 12, 1885, until March
27, 1887, when he was unanimously elected pastor of the congregation.
At this time an application was made to Alabama Presbytery for the church
to be withdrawn from said Presbytery to join that of Florida. Mr. Walker
was pastor until February 17, 1895, when his resignation was read at a
congregational meeting. The people accepted his resignation. Mr. Walker
then had charge of the State Normal at De Funiak Springs, but he continued
to serve the church as a supply pastor until September 6, 1895, when Rev.
W. S. Porter became pastor of said church, October 29, 1899. Mr. Porter
resigned November 13, 1899. Rev. C. T. Walker came to take charge of Milton
High School, and he was also employed to supply the pulpit of the Presbyterian
Church, until they could obtain a pastor. No stated salary was promised.
This provision Mr. Walker accepted, and officiated as pastor until April,
1901. Rev. G. W. Tollett was then called; he accepted the charge and began
to labor as our pastor in July, 1901, and resigned November 10, 1903.
Rev. S. G Hutton next accepted the pastorate December 1903, but was never
installed. He served as pastor until November 1, 1904. The next pastor,
Rev. B. R. Anderson, assumed the pastorate of this church the third Sunday
of February in 1905. He was installed April 9, 1905, by a committee from
the presbytery, consisting of Rev. R. Z. Baker, Rev. B. L. Baker, and
Elder Daniel Campbell who were appointed for that purpose.
(Note: Other ministers serving the First Presbyterian Church were:)
| 1908-1914 |
C. W. Humphreys |
| 1914-1917 |
Frederick B. Smith |
| 1917-1922 |
W. F. Harris |
| 1922-1925 |
George Mason |
| 1925-1926 |
J. C. Delaney |
| 1926-1931 |
John T. Young |
| 1931 |
John D. Thomas |
| |
H. G. Wiggins |
| 1938-1942 |
R. Clyde Douglas |
| 1942-1943 |
W. Peter Kott |
| 1943-1947 |
William Louis Hiemstra |
| 1947-1949 |
Joseph F. Clark |
| 1949-1956 |
Robert Porter |
| 1956-1957 |
Chaplain Morley |
| 1957-1958 |
Robert T. Coit |
| 1958-1968 |
W. W. Thrower |
| 1968-1969 |
Dr. C. D. Dicks |
| 1969-1971 |
William B. Lemosy |
But from all of our reminiscences how impressively comes back to us that
lesson written upon the works of man. "One generation passeth away, and
another generation cometh. Our Fathers, where are they? And the prophets,
do they live forever?" In yonder cemetery they lie, the fathers with the
children and children's children to the third and fourth generation. All
that now live will soon be numbered with the past, those who came after
us will gather up the story of our lifetime, and as we have fulfilled
our obligations to God and His Church, will write the record of our faith
or the record of our folly.
