Franklin County, Kentucky GenWeb

North Benson Baptist Church is located on the Devil's Hollow Road about six miles from Frankfort.  The First Church, which stood on the hill above the present church, was organized in 1825.

The Second Church was built where the present church now stands.  The original faced the creek, which was the road then.  The floors were slanted toward the front, and the men sat on the left while the women sat at the right.  The land that the church now sits on was purchased in 1847 from Landon and Elizabeth Sneed.  The deed recorded in March , 1847, follows:  "This indenture made and entered into the 13th day February, 1847 between Landon Sneed and Elizabeth Sneed, his wife  of the the county of Franklin and State of KY of the one part and David Williams, John Carter and Anderson Powers, Trustees of the Baptist Church of Christ at North Benson in the city and state aforesaid witnesseth that the said Landon Sneed and wife hath this day bargained and sold and by this instrument do grant bargain and sell and convey unto the above named, Williams, Carter and Powers for the sum of one dollar to us in hand paid.  The receipt where of we hereby acknowledge all that tract or parcel of land being or lying in the city  of Franklin and state of KY on the waters of North Benson beginning at  sycamore tree on the north west side of the north fork of Big Benson running thence down the creek N 51 E 10 poles to an Elm on the same side of the creek thence N30 W 11 poles to a stone near a walnut bark at the edge of a branch thence S 63 W 8 poles to a stone in the field thence S 30 E 13 poles to the beginning containing 96 poles of land with the appurtenances.  To them and their successors in office forever for the use and benefit of the aforesaid Baptist Church of Christ at North Benson we bind to warrant and defend the title to the above described tract of parcel of land against the claim or claims of all other persons whatsoever.  In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this day and date above written"
Landon Sneed
Test:  Lewis Sneed and A. Wilson

It has been delivered down through the generations that Mr. Arch Moore gave the church some land to build on.  Mr.  Moor's father was the first member of his family to come to Kentucky from Virginia in 1827. .Mr. Arch Moore was the great- great grandfather of Mr. Noble Moore, Mrs. Vernon Corbin, Mrs. Roy Milton and Mrs. Crutcher Harrod.  When the second church was torn down, part of the lumber was given to Judge Dan Moore, who was a deacon of the church.  He use the lumber  to build a barn.  This barn still stands on the property of Mrs. Bill League.

The ladies of the church used to ride their horses to church.  The old stile blocks from which the ladies used to mount their horses still stand in from of the church today.. They are the two large white stones in front of the Sunday School rooms the right of the church. Numbered among its founders and earliest supporters was Landon Sneed, J. D. Robinson, David Williams, W. A. Powers, James Truel, E. A. W. Roberts, Elijah Lea, Thorton Hale, Corbin Hale and Sudduth brothers, five in number , W. W. Wiloith, Leroy Wooldridge, the Hewletts and Moores.

The Third Church is the present one, nestled between the creek and the road.  It is a beautiful white country church with green grounds around it.  Stately old trees hover in benediction over the graves of many of the early members who sleep peacefully near the church they loved and helped to found.  There is a new addition to the building which was built in 1971.  The addition was dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Homer Brewer, our present pastor's wife who passed away in 1971.  The new addition took the place of the old assembly hall which was torn down by Mr. Jim Powers.

The early records of the church were never kept or else have been lost  The earliest records or church minutes that  were found began with the year 1840. Through the reading of other church histories in the county and books at the Historical Society the committee came by with some information on the early pastors of the church.  All such information has been copied from articles found in the Historical Society.

The first pastor of North Benson was William Hickman, Jr.  He was the son of William Hickman, Sr. noted Baptist Preacher and teacher of pioneer days.  William Hickman, Sr. was very influential in the growth and development of the country.  Hickman, Jr. was born in  VIrginia probably Buckingham County, June 1, 1768.  He came with his parents to Kentucky in 1784.  He married at the age of 19 and settled near the Forks of Elkhorn in Franklin  County.  He was probably baptized by his father and united with the Forks of Elkhorn Church.  On the 28th day of February 1801, he with his wife, Obedience, John Major, Gilbert Christian, Nancy Berryman and Lucy Christian entered into the organization of South Benson.  The South Benson Church was constituted by William Hickman, Sr., William Cash and John Penny.  He soon began to exercise in public prayer and exhortation and in 1802 was ordained to the pastoral care of South Benson.  This church building still stands on the Evergreen Road, but now it is a tobacco barn.  The congregation later became part of Evergreen Baptist Church.

To this congregation he ministered more than 40 years and preached monthly to other churches, North Benson being one of these churches.  He died at his home in Franklin County, December 24, 1845.  Among his descendants are Judge P. H. Lockett of Trenton, Kentucky, a grandson, who has been engaged in the ministry several years and William W. Hanes, a great -grandson, who is now pastor of one of the Baptist Churches in St. Louis, Missouri.

The next pastor of North Benson was W. C. Blanton.  He began his ministry in July, 1833.  Born of Baptist parents on February 3, 1803, he received a common school education.  When he approached the years of manhood, he led an exceedingly wicked life.  He was baptized into Forks of Elkhorn in 1827.  In 1831, he moved to the neighborhood of South Benson and united with that church.  In 1832, he was licensed to preach and on the solicitation of Lebanon Church was ordained to the ministry by William W. Ford, William Hickman, Sr., William Hickman, Jr. and John S. Major. In July, 1833, he took pastoral care of North Benson and Lebanon churches both in Franklin County.  He labored until failing health forced him to desist about a year before his death.

In 1882, William Ira Smith was called to preach at North Benson.  In October 1883, L. P. Hulette was called to pastor at Benson, he resigned in July 1884. Brother Burton took his place.

The records for the years 1892-1904 have been lost.  This leaves twelve years of history unknown; however, we know something about some of the pastors during this time.  Brother John S. Wilson was one of the must beloved, zealous and successful preachers that have lived in Kentucky.  He was born in Franklin County in the mid 1800's. When he was small he was a very dedicated person.  When he reached the age of 15, he abandoned his prayers, and for the next two years he indulged in sin, without the fear of God before his eyes.  At age 17 years he was awakened to a sense of his guilty distance from God.  After some time he found peace in Jesus and was baptized.  In a few years he started preaching.  He gave a due portion to exposing the insidious errors of Campbellism.  When Brother Wilson became ill and was bedfast, he said to his wife. "You have noticed that I have not asked any of the brethren to pray for me,"  on her inquiring the reason of this, he replied, "Why I should know what petition could be offered in my behalf.  God has done all for me that I wish him to do.  He has satisfied every desire of my heart.  He himself is all my salvation and all my desire.  I acquiesce in the divine will, having none of my own."  Soon after this he died.

John Henry Burdin was born in Paris, Kentucky on May 22, 1850 and died at his home near Forks of Elkhorn in July 1922.  He was blacksmith by trade and followed his work until he reached his call to preach some years after his marriage.  He was ordained by Bethel Baptist Church in Franklin County;  He preached for a number of churches in Franklin, Shelby, Anderson and Oldham Counties and was one time chaplain of the State Reformatory in Frankfort,  Brother Burdin still has relatives living in Frankfort, among these a great - great granddaughter, Mrs. Alvin Hardin, who still attends Benson, and Mrs. Colman Roach, who lives on the Bridgeport Benson Road.

The creek that runs alongside the church is a lazy looking little stream, picturesque and charming.  This creek bed used to be the county road.  At times this creek has become a raging torrent and a source of terror.  In 1896 there was a flood in which several people lost their lives.  Judge Dan Moore's daughter and two granddaughters drowned in what was known then as the Tollgate house.  Mrs. Pansy Powers lost some relatives in this flood.  Older people of the community still speak of what was called the "Benson Flood"

The existing church records begin again in March 1904.  John H. Burdin was called and accepted the pastorate of the church.  The committee for Home Missions collected $6.00.  On the committe were Sisters, Amilia Hulette and Sallie Moore.  This is the first recorded minutes where women of the church took part in any recorded activities.  In April the church decided not to render the church deaconless.  The old deacons were kept - Brothers T. D. Moore, James H. Martin, S. J. Moore, and James Stockton.  In 1905, Brother Burdin refused call for another year. The church called Brother James Murray Forbes Taylor.  In May 1907, W. E. Lowe was called as pastor.  He was from New York.  The first organ was retained for the church in 1908.

Source: One Hundred and Fifty Years of History of North Benson Baptist Church,  by Mrs. Jean Redding, April 1975
History Committee:  Mrs. Jean Redding, Mrs. Sue Snyder, Mrs. Pansy Powers and Mrs. Karne Hukell
Update:  July 1989
History Committee:  Jean Redding, Sue Snyder, Debra Sudduth and Mary Ellen Samples

Messengers and Deacons starting in 1882.  None listed in previous history:
Wm. Anderson, p. R. Pattie, L. P. Hulette, P. H. Roberts, Wm, Ira Smith, J. P. Moore, Wm. Rodgers and Andrew Jackson Hulette, Joseph Sheets, Anderson Powers, John Sudduth, Calvin Sheets, James P. Conway, Frank Hulette, P. H. Hulette, J. D. Moore, Oliver Travis, Francis Goins, Thadeous McAndrew, J. A. Hulette, O. B. Wade, Thomas  Moore, Robert Smith, A. A. Hulette, S. A. Hulette, James Hulette, E. A. W. Roberts, Wm. Moore, H. J. Hulette, F. M. Hulette,, George Singleton, Polk Conway. T. D. Moore, James Hodge,Martin, who had first married Perline Ellen Hulette, daughter of Andrew Jackson Hulette and secondly Lurinda Hulette, daughter of John Jefferson Hulette, S. J. Moore and James Stockton, James Morris, Charlotte Suttles, Minnie Moore, J. J. Moore.  James H. Martin organized Sunday school in 1904 as Superintendent and Thomas D. Moore as assistant and Lottie Suttle, Sec. Treas.  Statistics in 1904 were 225 church members, 125 Sunday school members, value of meeting House was $1,500.00, pastors salary was $214.50 and total expenses were $237.50.  By James H. Martin,. Church clerk.  Deacons from 1912 until 1830 were C. B. Matthews, H. T. Moore, Lester Moore, E. L. Sheets, Ira Hulette, S. J. Moore, Harry Moore, Joe Moore, Nevelle Stevens, Elwood Hulette.  This information from the Church History has been condensed by Harold W. Rarden.

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