A Post Office was opened in the community of Elbaville in 1870 and was operated by Lewis Bailey. The name Elbaville is derived by using the first syllables of two prominent family names of the community at that time, Ellis and Bailey. The names of the men believed to have been used are W. J. and W. R. Ellis and Richmond Bailey. Taking the “El” from Ellis and the “Ba” from Bailey and adding “ville”, you have the name, Elbaville.
Later a group of people of the Elbaville Community decided to build a church. The name Elbaville was adopted and used by the church.
The first land grant was given to Elbaville Methodist Protestant Church in 1872 by John F. Brinkley and wife to G. W. Sidden. The first deed was made on May 19, 1880 to the trustees, G. W. Sidden and H. T. Smithdeal. The exact date the first church was built is not known; but the cornerstone of the present church states the date as being 1882. The lumber used in constructing the church was dressed by hand by the men of the community. The church was weather-boarded and had five windows on each side. There were two single doors in the front in keeping with the tradition of separating the men from the women. Richard Myers, Sr. has built a replica of the first church.
The land for the cemetery was given by W. J. and Dollie Ellis and W. IL Ellis on June 4, 1880. Nathaniel Ellis, son of W. J. and Dollie Ellis, was the first to be buried in the cemetery and was done so before the land was deeded. The date of his gravels April 2, 1880. The cemetery bears 52 family names Bailey,Ellis,Fry,Foster,Lyon.Haneline,Markland,Myers, Mechum,
Orrell, Robertson, Sidden, Tucker, Waller and Zimmerman.
The first official roll of the church is dated 1901 and contains 111members. among these names are the following which probably have descendants in the church membership today: Bonson Bailey, Joseph Carter, Anna Garwood, W. J. Ellis, Agnus Hege, Lizzie Hege, Susanna Markland, C. C. Myers, Carrie Orrell,
. E. B. Shutt, T. Tucker, Minnie Wailer and Mittie Zimmerman.
F. A. Potts was the first known church school superintendent. It is not known exactly who the first pastor was; however, in 1904 the pastor was listed as being George L. Reynolds. In 1901 Elbaville was a member of the Mocksville Circuit which included Dulins, Bethel, Union Chapel and Union Grove.
In 1950 a building fund was started by the present congregation for the purpose of remodeling the old church or possibly building a new one. As the building fund grew it was decided to build a new church.
A building committee was ap pointed, plans were drawn and approved and on May 10, 1955, construction began. Rev. W. E. Fitzgerald was pastor at that time and the congregation numbered 75 (active) members. The men gave dressed lumber for the church, the women held suppers, the youth conducted projects to raise money and everyone gave of their time and money. With a sacrificial effort on the part of each one, over 2,500 man and machine hours were donated and $15,000 was raised to complete the building, valued at $26,000. Stained glass windows and furniture were presented as memorials. The bell from the old church was placed in the steeple of the new church and continues to call people to worship. Each Sunday, Clue Myers faithfully rings this bell calling all to come and worship. Finally, with close cooperation and splendid work, the Church was completed and on July 8, 1956, it was officially opened for services by the District Superintendent, Rev. N. T. Hipps. All debts were paid and the new church was dedicated on Homecoming Day in 1957. The old church was sold in connection with a Bar-B-Que to Johnny Burton on June 16, 1956. The Church was removed and converted into a dwelling.
In 1959 the Elbaton Charge was formed consisting of Elbaville, Fulton
and Bailey’s Chapel. Through a joint effort, the three churches built
a beautiful new parsonage on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Frank (Son)
Tucker. The six room parsonage was completed and furnished in 1960
and dedicated on May 12, 1963.
In August, 1964, the Church began raising money for an Educational and Fellowship Building. The Rev. Billy Clinard was pastor at that time. Members of the Building Committee were William Markiand, Virgil Robertson, Odell Smith, Kenneth Blakley, Mrs. Louie Zimmerman, Mrs. Mae Markiand and Mrs. Mattie Tucker. After the death of William Markiand, Donald Sain assume his position on the committee When Virgil Robertson moved away, Dan Lawson took his place and then later when Dan moved away, Thurman O’Mara took his place. Odell Smith and Kenneth Blakley served as chairmen during the building program. The first donation was given by Mr. and Mrs. John Bailey.
During the pastorate of Billy Clinard, Brice Smith and Willard Stevens, many donations were given by members, former members and friends. The United Methodist Women sponsored several projects that added to the Building Fund. Also the first Sunday of each month the collection was placed in the Building Fund. On June 22, 1973, the Building Committee met with Tom Hutchins, an architect, who drew up plans. The first of
September, 1974 ground was broken for the building. James Nance was given the task of erection. Members of the congregation willingly gave of their free labor. A donation of $2,000 was received from the Davie County Church Extension Service. Duke Endowment gave a total of $11,100 toward the building. The building was finished during early 1975 and valued at approximately $44,000. Furnishings, chairs, dishes, etc., were given by members and friends as memorials. On March 21, 1976, the building was dedicated by Rev. George Rudisill, District Superintendent. A fellowship lunch followed in the newly dedicated building.
The women of the Church have always been very active. Around 1920, a Ladies Aid Society was formed by the women of the Church. This continued until the name was changed to Women’s Society of Christian Service and more recently has been known as the United Methodist Women. All through the years the women have conducted many worthwhile projects to help the community, foreign missions, conference work and the local church. Through the years many ladies served as the president of the group including the following: Mrs. Clara Bailey, Miss Kate Tucker, Miss Laura Shutt, Mrs. Mae Markiand, Mrs. Mary Lillian Zimmerman, Mrs. Mabel Howard, Mrs. Mattie Tucker and Mrs. Joan Blakley. -
Also the men organized and established a Methodist Men’s group which met on Sunday Morning for a breakfast meeting. This group elected Kenneth Blakley as their president.
A Post Office was opened in the community of Elbaville in 1870 and was operated by Lewis Bailey. The name Elbaville is derived by using the first syllables of two prominent family names of the community at that time, Ellis and Bailey. The names of the men believed to have been used are W. J. and W. R. Ellis and Richmond Bailey. Taking the "El" from Ellis and the "Ba" from Bailey and adding "ville", you have the name, Elbaville.
Later a group of people of the Elbaville Coninunity decided to build a church. The name Elbaville was adopted and used by the church.
The first land grant was given to Elbaville Methodist Protestant Church in 1872 by John F. Brinkley and wife to G. W. Sidden. The first deed was made on May 19, 1880 to the trustees, G. W. Sidden and H. T. Smithdeal. The exact date the first church was built is not known; but the cornerstone of the present church states the date as being 1882. The lumber used in constructing the church was dressed by hand by the men of the community. The church was weather-boarded and had five windows on each side. There were two single doors in the front in keeping with the tradition of separating the men from the women. Richard Myers, Sr. has built a replica of the first church.
The land for the cemetery was given by W. J. and Dollie Ellis and W. IL Ellis on June 4, 1880. Nathaniel Ellis, son of W. J. and Dollie Ellis, was the first to be buried in the cemetery and was done so before the land was deeded. The date of his gravels April 2, 1880. The cemetery bears 52 family names Bailey,Ellis,Fry,Foster,Lyon.Haneline,Markland,Myers, Mechum,
Orrell, Robertson, Sidden, Tucker, Waller and Zimmerman.
The first official roll of the church is dated 1901 and contains ill members. amiong these names are the following which probably have descendants in the church membership today: Bonson Bailey, Joseph Carter, Anna Garwood, W. J. Ellis, Agnus Hege, Lizzie Hege, Susanna Markland, C. C. Myers, Carrie Orrell,
. E. B. Shutt, T. Tucker, Minnie Wailer and Mittie Zimmerman.
F. A. Potts was the first known church school superintendent. It is not known exactly who the first pastor was; however, in 1904 the pastor was listed as being George L. Reynolds. In 1901 Elbaville was a member of the Mocksville Circuit which included Dulins, Bethel, Union Chapel and Union Grove.
In 1950 a building fund was started by the present congregation for the purpose of remodeling the old church or possibly building a new one. As the building fund grew it was decided to build a new church.
A building committee was ap pointed, plans were drawn and approved and on May 10, 1955, construction began. Rev. W. E. Fitzgerald was pastor at that time and the congregation numbered 75 (active) members. The men gave dressed lumber for the church, the women held suppers, the youth conducted projects to raise money and everyone gave of their time and money. With a sacrificial effort on the part of each one, over 2,500 man and machine hours were donated and $15,000 was raised to complete the building, valued at $26,000. Stained glass windows and furniture were presented as memorials. The bell from the old church was placed in the steeple of the new church and continues to call people to worship. Each Sunday, Clue Myers faithfully rings this bell calling all to come and worship. Finally, with close cooperation and splendid work, the Church was completed and on July 8, 1956, it was officially opened for services by the District Superintendent, Rev. N. T. Hipps. All debts were paid and the new church was dedicated on Homecoming Day in 1957. The old church was sold in connection with a Bar-B-Que to Johnny Burton on June 16, 1956. The Church was removed and converted into a dwelling.
In 1959 the Elbaton Charge was formed consisting of Elbaville, Fulton
and Bailey's Chapel. Through a joint effort, the three churches built
a beautiful new parsonage on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Frank (Son)
Tucker. The six room parsonage was completed and furnished in 1960
and dedicated on May 12, 1963.
In August, 1964, the Church began raising money for an Educational and Fellowship Building. The Rev. Billy Clinard was pastor at that time. Members of the Building Committee were William Markiand, Virgil Robertson, Odell Smith, Kenneth Blakley, Mrs. Louie Zimmerman, Mrs. Mae Markiand and Mrs. Mattie Tucker. After the death of William Markiand, Donald Sain assume his position on the committee When Virgil Robertson moved away, Dan Lawson took his place and then later when Dan moved away, Thurman O'Mara took his place. Odell Smith and Kenneth Blakley served as chairmen during the building program. The first donation was given by Mr. and Mrs. John Bailey.
During the pastorate of Billy Clinard, Brice Smith and Willard Stevens, many donations were given by members, former members and friends. The United Methodist Women sponsored several projects that added to the Building Fund. Also the first Sunday of each month the collection was placed in the Building Fund. On June 22, 1973, the Building Committee met with Tom Hutchins, an architect, who drew up plans. The first of
September, 1974 ground was broken for the building. James Nance was given the task of erection. Members of the congregation willingly gave of their free labor. A donation of $2,000 was received from the Davie County Church Extension Service. Duke Endowment gave a total of $11,100 toward the building. The building was finished during early 1975 and valued at approximately $44,000. Furnishings, chairs, dishes, etc., were given by members and friends as memorials. On March 21, 1976, the building was dedicated by Rev. George Rudisill, District Superintendent. A fellowship lunch followed in the newly dedicated building.
The women of the Church have always been very active. Around 1920, a Ladies Aid Society was formed by the women of the Church. This continued until the name was changed to Women's Society of Christian Service and more recently has been known as the United Methodist Women. All through the years the women have conducted many worthwhile projects to help the community, foreign missions, conference work and the local church. Through the years many ladies served as the president of the group including the following: Mrs. Clara Bailey, Miss Kate Tucker, Miss Laura Shutt, Mrs. Mae Markiand, Mrs. Mary Lillian Zimmerman, Mrs. Mabel Howard, Mrs. Mattie Tucker and Mrs. Joan Blakley. -
Also the men organized and established a Methodist Men's group which met on Sunday Morning for a breakfast meeting. This group elected Kenneth Blakley as their president.
