Chapter Two:  A Time to Water -- 1887-1904

During the next few years, Zion Hill Baptist Church continued to prosper as the seeds of faith were watered with solid Bible teaching. The church began a Sunday School and built a new church building.

In 1887, Zion Hill called Henry J. Gossett, pastor. (This was the first of two pastorates he served at Zion Hill, from 1887 to 1891.) Gossett was born in South Carolina, March 10, 1841, to Johnson and Sarah Gossett. The family moved to a farm at Boyd's Creek in the 1840's. Henry, along with four older brothers and sisters, helped their parents work the farm. On November 13, 1859, Henry married Juda Moore, the daughter of John and Martha Moore who also lived at Boyd's Creek. Juda's father died suddenly leaving her mother with five daughters and a family farm to care for. To help Mrs. Moore work the farm, Henry and Juda moved near her. ¹

When fighting broke out between the North and South, Henry left his wife, expectant with their first child, and joined the Union Army. In 1863, he traveled from Sevier County to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he enlisted in Company F, 6th Indiana Cavalry. While away, his first child, a daughter, was born. Military records show Gossett to be sickly while away from home, like many soldiers exposed to war conditions. Soon after arrival in camp at Mt. Sterling, KY, he came down with chills and fever. Later, he spent time in the Regimental Hospital at Cumberland Gap, TN. On September 15, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Murfreesboro, and began his journey home. ²

Gossett returned to his wife and family on the farm with a trade he utilized in service, shoemaking. However, he would soon embark on a totally different career. Gossett announced his call to preach to his home church, Boyd's Creek Baptist Church. They ordained him into the gospel ministry and in 1883, he was called as the first pastor of the newly organized Beech Springs Baptist Church in Kodak. ³

In 1887, members of Zion Hill called Gossett to pastor. Gossett and the church took part in the Sevier Association's first annual meeting held at Henderson's Chapel. The church sent William Brown as its messenger. In the church's letter to the association, Jonathan Johnson, church clerk, reported church membership at 90. ⁴

A sweet tribute bestowed on the Gossetts at Zion Hill occurred in 1890 when members of the church, W. H. and Melinda Pitner, had a daughter. She was born April 23, 1890, and named Juda in honor of Mrs. Gossett. Tragically, both Melinda and her baby daughter Juda died two months later in June. They were buried in the Zion Hill Cemetery. ⁵

After Gossett left the church in 1892, members called Noah H. Haggard to pastor again. He was born in 1824 to James and Mary Haggard. His father was also a Baptist preacher. Preacher Haggard stayed one year and baptized 15 new Christians into the Zion Hill church family. (Messengers to the association in 1892 were William Brown, R. J. Ingle, church clerk, and John Thomas.) ⁶ (For more on Haggard, see Chapter 1, endnote 9.)

In 1893, members called Langston Cunningham to pastor. Like Haggard, he served only one year. He was born in 1824, the eldest of 10 children of John Cunningham. He was a farmer and lived in the Zion Hill community. Cunningham was 68 years old when called to pastor the church. He was considered "a high-toned Christian gentleman, esteemed by all who knew him." His age and failing health may have kept him from being called a second year. ⁷

After Cunningham, the congregation called one of its own members, William Brown, to pastor in 1894. He had served the church in many capacities, from messenger to the association's annual meeting to being the church's missionary agent, collecting funds to send the Gospel to the lost, like a colporteur in the local community. As a messenger to the association in 1887 at Henderson's Chapel and again in 1892 at Wear's Valley, Brown had made new acquaintances since delegates stayed in the homes of host church members. Typically, delegates would arrive for the associational meetings on Thursday morning, stay in the home of a host family until the meeting ended Saturday evening, then return home. ⁸

William Brown, born May 27, 1866, was one of eight children of John and Martha Brown. His father ran a mill near Sevierville. In 1880, when he was 14 years old, William was attending school, a privilege at that time. Brown was probably ordained by Zion Hill since he was an active member there. Nevertheless, during his first year as pastor, the Lord used him in a mighty way. He baptized 35 into the church family and saw membership climb to 141. One possible reason baptisms jumped was the addition of a Sunday School in 1894 to complement preaching services. Sunday School enrollment the first year was 80 with an average attendance of 50. Sunday School was held 5 months out of the year, probably in the summertime when children's classes could be outdoors. ⁹

Sunday School in the 1890's was similar to Sunday School in the 1990/s at Zion Hill, except for the way people dressed. In the 1890s, dress in the church varied from "Sunday-go-to-meeting-clothes" to clean bib overalls and plain ankle length homemade calico dresses. Women usually wore bonnets or hats. ¹⁰

Sunday School featured Bible classes for both children and adults. A typical children's Sunday School class included memorization of scriptures and Bible-based songs. Adult classes were separated into men's and women's classes, and the teacher interpreted a pre-selected chapter in the Bible. In the earliest Sunday School, there was no literature, as is used now, only the Bible. The adult class teacher functioned like a moderator, reading the Bible passage then leading discussion on it. All class members were encouraged to participate, to "speak from the heart," and to ask questions. Thoroughly used Bibles were much in evidence in the adult classes. ¹¹

Brown served the church for three years preaching on the second weekend of the month. He received a salary of $20.00 a year, $1.66 a month. A popular sermon topic at the time was the evil of alcohol. Temperance was a major issue in the county in the 1890's. Church members were urged to vote for officials who opposed alcohol as a beverage. Churches supported the Anti-Saloon League which worked for prohibition statewide. The League was responsible for the state legislature's passage of the "Four-Mile Law," prohibiting the sale of alcohol within a four-mile radius of a public school. This law was broadened to ban practically all liquor sales across the state leading Tennessee to be officially "dry" by 1909. ¹²

Another concern of the membership seemed to be the sanctity of the Sabbath. The fourth commandment was honored by most church members. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work ... For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:8-11). These verses had a powerful meaning for church members as evidenced by a resolution adopted at the 1896 associational annual meeting. It stated: "Whereas many citizens of our county continually violate the laws of our land and the laws of God by driving their wagons to and from Knoxville on Sunday. Resolved, That it is the sense of the Sevier Association that this sinful and lawless practice should be stopped ... We recommend that the churches discipline their members who thus desecrate God's holy day." ¹³

Brown supported both issues. He was concerned with the church staying strong and believed in disciplining members who broke the Ten Commandments. His strong leadership and service to the Lord resulted in Brown baptizing 26 new Christians in the next two years. Keeping records of new members and actions taken against those considered unruly was the church clerk, R. J. Ingle.¹⁴

In 1897, Zion Hill's members called Henry Gossett to pastor again. His second pastorate was memorable with construction of a new church building. The congregation continued to grow and outgrew its first building, so the men of the community built a new building. (Their decision to build may have been hurried along due to water damage from a major countywide flood April 1, 1896, and continuous seasonal flooding.) The new building was constructed on the hill below where the present church stands with an elevation above flood stage. It was a larger one room structure also used as a school, named Zion Hill School.¹⁵

Gossett was very interested in seeing the Sunday School prosper and encouraged officers and teachers to attend training meetings whenever possible. Associational Sunday School meetings were held four times a year across the county with discussions on a wide range of topics. Meetings were announced in the local newspaper to encourage teachers and other interested church members to attend. Topics of discussion and who would speak about a particular topic were also given. A typical meeting was held at Gist's Creek and announced in the January 18, 1899, edition of the weekly county paper, The Vindicator. It read: "Fifth Sunday Meeting of the Sevier Association of Baptists to Meet with Gist's Creek Church, January 27-28, 1899. Program: 10:00 A.M. -- Introductory sermon by Elder H. J. Gossett; Elder P. M. Atchley, alternate.
1st Question -- The importance of training young converts in church work. Elder L. Branson, N. B. Brock.
2nd -- What did the Sevier Association do last year for missions? Can she raise $400 this year? If so, how? What is the hindrance to this mission work? -- Elder J. R. Clabough, Pink Maples.
3rd -- Is it right for Baptists to patronize their own schools with their money & children? -- Elders J. A. Jenkins, U. S. McCarter. 4th -- Is the spirit of revival in our churches as it should be? If not, How are we to obtain it? -- Elders C. Rule, D. B. Ogle.
5th --The relation of our Sunday School and colportage and its work--J.A. Householder, Elder J.S. Baxter.
A large attendance is solicited. Committee." ¹⁶

In the February 1, 1899, edition of The Vindicator, a report of the meeting printed on the front page was headlined, Fifth Sunday Meeting, and read: "The Fifth Sunday meeting of the Sevier Association of Baptists met with Gist's Creek Church, Friday, January 27th, 1899. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. H. J. Gossett at 10:30 a.m. from 1st Corinthians IX:12. Hon. J. A. Householder was elected chairman and A. J. Kyker, secretary. Delegates and visitors were enrolled and homes assigned. The chair appointed a committee on resolution as follows: Revs. J. W. H. Coker, C. Rule and B. Langston. Adjourned until 2 p.m.

Evening Session. After singing by the choir, Rev. G. A. Atchley led in prayer. The first subject on the program was discussed by Elders G. A. Atchley, J. W. H. Coker, B. Langston, Evan Hurst, J. R. Clabough and I. N. Parrott. On motion the second subject was passed until 10 o'clock next day. On motion the third subject was tabled. The fourth question was taken up and discussed by Elders C. Rule, D. B. Ogle and H. J. Gossett. Adjourned to meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday Session. After music by the choir "Shall we know each other better?" the chairman read from Romans 8 and J. B. Johnson led in prayer. The minutes of the previous day were read and adopted. Enrolled other delegates. The fourth question was further discussed by Elders J. W. H. Coker, E. Hurst, and H. J. Gossett and then passed. The second question was taken up and discussed by Elder J. R. Clabough and Brother Pink Maples. Preaching at 11 a.m. by Rev. I. N. Parrott from Philippians 2:15. Adjourned till 1:30 p.m.

Afternoon session. Music by the choir, prayer by Rev. B. Langston. The second question was further discussed by Brethren J. A. Householder, Pink Maples and Rev. C. Rule. The resolution's committee reported as follows: Resolved, We tender our heartfelt thanks to the church and community for their cordial reception, kind treatment and hospitality during the sitting of this body, and that we congratulate the good people of Gist's Creek church for the sacrifice they have made in building such a fine and magnificent place of worship. J. W. H. Coker, C. Rule, B. Langston, Committee ¹⁷

A motion was carried that a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be furnished our county papers with the request to publish. After singing "Jesus Lover of My Soul," and engaging in a hearty hand shake the meeting adjourned. Preaching Saturday night by Elder D. B. Ogle and Sunday by Elder J. W. H. Coker." ¹⁸

Former and future Zion Hill pastors were much involved in this meeting and other associational work along with Preacher Gossett. A few months after this meeting, Gossett resigned Zion Hill. He left the church on solid footing and paved the way for future pastors. He was 57 years old when he departed the church having had a full, productive life. No records have been found where he pastored another church after leaving Zion Hill. ¹⁹

In 1899, Zion Hill once again called William Brown to pastor. He had a fruitful ministry that year, baptizing 17 and seeing membership reach 156, an increase of 73% in 13 years. He stayed only one year and was then called by Miller's Cove, one of the oldest churches in Blount County. [An interesting note about Brown, he served as pastor of Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church from 1909 to 1915. It was during this time that the present building now a part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was built.] ²⁰

In 1900, the members called William M. Hurst to pastor. Born in 1860, Hurst was a farmer, an occupation he had in common with the membership at Zion Hill. He was married to Mary Ann Williams and lived at Harrisburg. Hurst was very interested in Sunday School and in training teachers to teach and lead. With that goal in mind, he invited the Tenth District Sunday School Convention of the Sevier Association to meet at Zion Hill. An article in the May 20, 1903 edition of Montgomery's Vindicator announced the meeting to be held May 24, 1903, at Zion Hill beginning at 2:00 P.M. with devotional exercises by P. Cummings. Three questions to be discussed. How can we get the people interested in the Sunday School work? To be discussed by J. F. Ingle and G. F. Rule. On whom does the responsibility of the Sunday School rest? To be discussed by J. R. Clabough, D. L. Parsons. Object of the Sunday School Convention? To be discussed by C. Rule and J. R. Tarwater. Cummings and Ingle had served as Sunday School Superintendent at Zion Hill. ²¹

Soon after this meeting, Hurst resigned the church and the membership called Caleb Rule to pastor. Members of Zion Hill were familiar with Rule who had pastored neighboring churches and had been involved in associational training meetings. He was born July 2, 1840, to John and Nancy Rule. He, like Preachers Langston and Gossett, joined the Union Army during the War Between the States. However, his war experience was quite different. He served in Company K 3rd TN Cavalry as a farrier (horse-shoer). He was in many battles, was captured in northern Alabama by General Nathan Bedford Forrest, September 25, 1864, and was taken to a prisoner-of-war encampment at Cahaba Prison, Alabama. ²²

Rule experienced dreadful conditions at the prison camp. Soon after he arrived at Cahaba, the Alabama River flooded and he and the other prisoners stood waist deep in water for five days and nights with no food or sleep. The only building at the prison camp was an old cotton shed. It was large enough for about 500 men, but during the time Rule was there, it housed over 2,000. Most of the men had no shelter from the weather and little medical treatment. The average daily ration of food was a scant 1½ pints of uncooked, coarsely ground corn meal (cob and all), a piece of slab bacon about the size of two fingers, and a dash of salt. On very rare occasions, the prisoners received treats of cow peas or pumpkin. Prisoners had to find a way to cook their own rations. ²³

Rule and others of his company survived seven months of prison camp to face yet another adversity. When the war ended, the prisoners were marched and freighted from central Alabama to Vicksburg, Mississippi. There they boarded the steamboat Sultana for a trip to Ohio to be mustered out of service. On April 27, 1865, one of the Sultana's boilers exploded and the boat was ripped apart. Hundreds of sleeping men were shot into the air and landed on the burning deck of the steamboat or were thrown into the floodwater of the Mississippi River. Caleb swam and floated down river for seven miles before coming to a clump of trees. He grabbed a vine and ripped it free of the small tree from which it was wrapped. The vine, symbolic perhaps of Caleb's grip on life, was with him when he was picked up by a yawl. Tragically, Caleb's brother John Rule died in the Sultana explosion. Caleb always said that by the grace of God he survived the ordeal. He later boarded another steamboat, was taken to Ohio to be mustered out of service, then walked from Cincinnati to Sevier County reaching home in late June, 1865. ²⁴

With his horrifying war experience behind him, Caleb Rule began a new life at home. He surrendered to the call to preach and was ordained by Antioch Baptist Church. He married Eliza Louise Pierce, the daughter of Pleasant Pierce, December 28, 1865. They had twelve children (see endnotes) all grown by the time Rule pastored Zion Hill. Not only was Rule a preacher, but he was also a farmer and blacksmith. ²⁵

While Rule was at Zion Hill, he baptized six into the church family. As a 63-year old preacher, he was a great encouragement to the congregation. He led not only through his strong Bible preaching but also by his example of faithfulness to the Lord. Caleb Rule was a well-respected minister in the area and was one of seven men chosen to serve on the Executive Board of the Sevier Association in 1903. The Executive Board was the decision-making body of the association. He was rewarded for many years of faithful service with his selection to the board. ²⁶

With a new century and powerful preachers sharing the message of Jesus Christ with the congregation, it was like water to young plants, helping the church establish deep roots of faith and knowledge of the Bible for years to come. In the words of Jeremiah, "Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, ... and their soul shall be as a watered garden." (Jer. 31:12).

1. Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter (hereafter SMHSN) Vol. XXII, No. 1, p. 23. 1850 Population Census. Reagan, Donald, Sevier County, Tennessee Marriage Record Book I, 1856-1873, 1982, p. 11.
2. SMHSN, Vol. XII, No. 1, p. 23.
3. In the Beginning, p. 38; Underwood, Stella, Juanita Smith Cate, and Debra Ann Cline, Church History, Beech Springs Baptist Church, 1883-1983, unpublished document, p. 2.
4. Bobbie Galyon, Marilyn Householder, Charlotte McCarter, Zion Hill Baptist Church Records in the Sevier Association (records compiled for the church's 100th anniversary -- hereafter referred to as "Zion Hill Records", p. 1.
5. Information taken from cemetery markers in Zion Hill Cemetery.
6. Atchley Family History, 1965, p. 49; 1892 Sevier Baptist Association Minutes.
7. 1893 Sevier Baptist Association Minutes; 1880 Population Census, p. 262; The Vindicator, June 22, 1904. [Cunningham died June 11, 1904, after a lingering illness and was buried in Zion Hill Cemetery. Services by Rev. S. C. Atchley.]
8. 1894 Sevier Baptist Association Minutes.
9. 1880 Population Census. Information taken from cemetery markers in Zion Hill Cemetery. 1894 Sevier Baptist Association Minutes. [Brown died August 11, 1949, and is buried in Zion Hill Cemetery.]
10. Gentle Winds of Change, p. 175; Montgomery's Vindicator, May 30, 1906.
11. Ibid.
12. Zion Hill Records, p. 2; Tennessee Blue Book, 1995-1996, Bicentennial Edition, p. 394.
13. 1896 Sevier Baptist Association Minutes, p. 10.
14. Ibid.
15. Zion Hill Records, p. 1. 16. Montgomery's Vindicator, January 18, 1899.
17. Montgomery's Vindicator, February 1, 1899.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid. 1899 Sevier Baptist Association Minutes. Montgomery's Vindicator, February 17, 1904; Smoky Mountain Historical Society, In the Shadow of the Smokies, 1993, p. 216. [Preacher Gossett died February 18, 1906. He outlived Juda by two years; she had died February 9, 1904. Her obituary appeared in the February 17, 1904, edition of Montgomery's Vindicator and read as follows: "Juda Gossett, wife of Rev. H.J. Gossett, of Boyd's Creek, died Tuesday, February 9, at 5:00 P.M. after an illness of more than a year from consumption. She was a Christian lady, a member of the Boyd's Creek Baptist Church. She was buried in the Boyd's Creek cemetery Wednesday afternoon." When Rev. Gossett died, he was buried beside her.]
20. 1899 Sevier Baptist Association Minutes; Hood, John O., History of the Chilhowee Baptist Association, 1970, p. 362.
21. 1880 Population Census. 1900 Sevier Baptist Association Minutes. Zion Hill Records, p. 2. Montgomery's Vindicator, May 20, 1903. In the Shadow of the Smokies, p. 187. [Hurst died in 1923 and is buried at Walnut Grove.]
22. 1860 Population Census; Sevier County, Tennessee, and Its Heritage, 1994 (hereafter Sevier County Heritage), pp. 328-329.
23. SMHSN, Vol. XI, No. 3, pp. 64-66, 70. Salecker, Gene Eric, Disaster on the Mississippi 1996, Appendix B, p. 286.
24. Ibid. Knoxville News-Sentinel, April 16, 1998. Sevier County Heritage, p. 329.
25. 1903 Sevier County Association Minutes. Zion Hill Records, p. 2. [Caleb Rule's children: Martha Zora, b. 10 Feb 1867- married John Allen Jenkins; George Franklin Rule, 27 Sep 1868-6 Aug 1955, married Amelia Parsons; Nancy Lorena, 16 Feb 1870-7 Jun 1943, married Adam H. Tarwater; Marion Robert Rule, b. 1871 married Marinda Keeble; William Walter Rule, b.1873, married Bertha Jenkins; Margaret Melvina b. 1875, married Dr. W. R. Froneybarger; Andrew Lafayette Rule b. 1877 married Mae J. Williams; John Herman Rule, 12 Jun 1879-10 Dec 1957 married Hettie Baker; Oliver Addison Rule b. 1881, married Alice Evans; Harvey DeWitt Rule, b. 1883 married Ruby Bond; Myrtle Alice b.1885, married M. D. Baker.]
26. Ibid., 1903 Sevier County Association Minutes. [The obituary committee, when reporting on those who had died during the year: in that number was Rev. Benjamin Langston, one of our earnest Associational workers.]