ONE HUNDRED YEARS HISTORY: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SILER CITY, NC, May 17, 1889-May 17, 1989 by Murray M. Andrew (286.175659/A23)

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John Jesse (J. J.) Crutchfield (1853 -1897)

J. J. Crutchfield was born January 27, 1853, the son of the Rev. Enoch Crutchfield and his second wife, Batbenia Womble. He was a grandson of John and Nancy Ann McPherson Crutchfield ofEfland, North Carolina and a great-grandson of Henry and Millie Terrell Crutchfield who were large plantation owners in the Silk Hope area.

J. J. Crutchfield was married September 9, 1876 to Charlotte (Ida) Frances Lutterloh Smith who was a daughter of Alfred and Charlotte Lutterloh Smith. The Smiths were large plantation owners near Ramseur, North Carolina.

Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Crutchfield were the parents of five children: Charlotte Bathenia Crutchfield, Charles Ernest Crutchfield, Junius Frederick Crutchfield, James Ralph Crutchfield, and William Jessie Crutchfield.

J. J. Crutchfield was a shoemaker by trade and, soon after bis marriage, be and his wife owned and operated the Smith-Crutchfield Shop in the area during the 1880's and 1890's. lbis was a ladies' wear and millinery shop.

In May 1877, J. J. Crutchfield was elected the first Marshal of Siler City. He became the first Clerk of the First Baptist Church, and be remained in these two positions until bis untimely death February 6, 1897. After bis death, bis widow and children moved to Greensboro, North Carolina where Mrs. Crutchfield died October 2, 1904 . .

William Lane Hudson (1852 - 1941)

W. L. Hudson was born in 1852 and was the son of Charles J. and Otelia Rosser Hudson. He grew upin the Moon's Chapel Church area and joined the church there in September of 1871. He moved his membership to Rocky River Baptist Church in December of 1881.

On December 20, 1878, W. L. Hudson married Annie Victoria Smith, daughter of Adam and Caroline Perry Smith. They were the parents of six children: William Robert Hudson, Rufus Hudson, Mrs. Bunn (Annie Maude Hudson) Phillips, Clyde Hudson, Johnny Hudson, and Mrs. Paul (Minnie Hudson) Phillips.

By trade, W. L. Hudson was considered to be a carpenter. He first worked at a sawmill, and then moved to Siler City and managed a planer mill. While there be designed and received a patent for a windmill. He sold his patent to the Allison Morrison Company of Lynchburg, Virginia and moved there about 1918 to supervise the construction of bis windmill. His wife died in Siler City while be was living in Lynchburg, but W. L. remained there until he retired. He, then, returned to Siler City and lived with bis daughter, Mrs. Bunn Phillips. Before moving to Lynchburg, W. L. Hudson had built a house for his family on South Dogwood Avenue. His house was sold to J.B. Marley, the funeral director at that time.

Adolphus Crabtree Jordan (1856 - 1896)

A. C. Jordan was born December 2, 1856, and grew up in the Moon's Chapel area and joined the church there in November 1873. He was the son of Henry Harris and Wincey Lane Jordan, and was one of 12 children. His father farmed and bis parents were life-long members of Moon's Chapel.

On December 15, 1880, A. C. Jordan married Cattie Matthews, daughter of William and Margaret Cheek Matthews. A. C. and Cattie Jordan lived with her parents in the house bought from John Siler, where the U.S. Post Office is now located. Cattie Jordan moved her membership to Moon's Chapel and remained there until she joined the First Baptist Church.

A. C. and Cattie Jordan were the parents of six children: Mrs. C. N. (Eulalia Jordan) Bray, Mrs. Van (Willie Jordan) Elkins,Mrs.J. Wade (BertaJordan)Siler,Mrs. W. T. (ElmaJordan)Baucom,EdwardJordan, andMrs.J. Wade(VivianJordan) Siler.

A. C. Jordan farmed with William Matthews and helped him manage bis hotel and livery stables. At one time, A. C. Jordan was operating a cotton gin. Grandchildren of A. C. Jordan who are presently members of our church are Mrs. Nathalia Bray Thomas and Mrs. Berta Bray McMasters.

David Reid Sears (1855 - 1938)

Emma E. Womble Sears (1859 - 1915)

D.R. Sears was born February 6, 1855, and was the son of Washington W. Sears and Dorcus Maness Sears. He was a member of Loves Creek Church, but moved his membership to Rocky River Baptist Church in July of 1886.

On June 14, 1890, petitions from Sandy Creek and Union Grove Churches were read petitioning this church to request the Sandy Creek Association to call a Presbytery to examine D. R. Sears and, if found worthy, ordain him to the full work of the gospel. 1be Presbytery appointed included Rev. H. H. Lawhorn, Rev. J. L. Smith, Rev. 0. T. Edwards, Rev. W. F. Watson,

and Rev. J.B. Richardson. This was carried out, and Rev. D.R. Sears became the first member of the First Baptist Church of Siler City to be ordained into the ministry. He pastored churches at Sandy Branch, Union Grove and Mechanics Hill. Our church min-utes indicate that he may have filled in between pastorates at First Baptist, and be did other supply work while he continued to farm.

Emma E. Womble Sears was the daughter of James and Rebecca Jones Womble, and she was a member of Loves Creek Baptist Church where she remained until she became a charter member of the First Baptist Cllurch. Emma E. Womble and David R. Sears were married March iO, 1880 and were the parents of three children: James Washington Sears, Lumma Augusta Sears Marsh Eubanks, and Dr.

Emma E. Womble Sears Carson Sears. David Reid Sears After Emma Sears' death on March 22,

1915, D. R. Sears married Rosa Womble. They had one son, Hardy Sears. Grandchildren of Rev. and Mrs. D.R. Sears who are members of our church at the present time are: Mrs. Evelyn

Marsh Rightsell, Mrs. Fleet (Ruby Eubanks) Baldwin, and Max Sears.

William Alexander (W. A.) Teague (1855 - 1936)

W. A. Teague was born December 20, 1855, and was the son of William Madison Teague and Amy Elizabeth Cox Teague, and grandson of William and Anna Carter Teague. W . A. Teague grew up in the Mudlick area of Chatham County and joined the Rocky River Baptist Omrch by professing faith and baptism in September of 1876 and remained there until he became a charter member of the First Baptist Church.

OnSeptember20, 1880,hemarriedMalindaJaneLambe,daughterofOliverand Polly Minerva Teague Lambe, and they were the parents of three children: John Randolph Teague, Mrs. J. L. (Myrtle Teague) Carrick, and Charlie Ross Teague.

In 1888, W. A. Teague joined the firm opened by John F. Lambe and A . A. Lambe. The firm then became the Teague and Lambe firm which was the town's leading general merchandise store. It was also the leading supplier of building materials. In 1919, the general merchandise section was sold to C. L. Brower, but W. A. Teague and John F. Lambe continued the lumber and building materials section for several years. The W . A. Teague homestead was located at 618 North Second Avenue.

William Alexander Teague

Duncan Lane (D.L.) Webster

Duncan Lane Webster

D. L. Webster was born June 1, 1850 and was the son of Richard Webster and Mary Hamlet Webster of the Emmaus Church area. He joined Emmaus Baptist Church by accepting faith and baptism in St!ptember 1865. He served as a delegate to the Sandy Creek Association from Emmaus Church in 1871 through 1874. D. L. Webster moved to Matthews Crossroads and engaged in merchandising. In 1887, he joined and became a part-owner of Hadley-Peoples and Company. This company sold all kinds of general merchandise, bought and sold cotton, canoed fruit for shipment, sold fertilizers and seeds, and sold all produce for the time period,

In 1902, the Hadley brothers sold their interestto D. L. Webster and J. N. Peoples. The company became known then as the Webster-Peoples Company. After the death of J. N. Peoples, his interest was bought by J. F . Paschal, and then the company operated with the name of Webster-Paschal Company from 1905 to 1915, until the death of D. L. Webster March 22, 1915.