Elbert County GaArchives Churches
Ruckersville United Methodist Church 


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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Transcribed by Chandler Eavenson 
<http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294>
4 April 2006

Churches
Ruckersville United Methodist Church 

The following is taken from a church history shown in the
Elberton Star newspaper in 1974 and compiled by Mrs. Frank
Melton: 

"The first building of what was known as Ruckersville Methodist
Church was originally located in the forks of the road where
the George Power sub-station is now located. At a later time it
moved nearer the center of Ruckersville about one quarter mile 
east of the present building into probably a log cabin, which
was later torn down, rebuilt and now used s a tenant house. The 
present location of the Church is on two acres of land given by 
Peter Alexander. Ruckersville Methodist Church was chartered 
by an Act of the Georgia legislature and built in the year 1832. 

"The trustees named were Richard C. Adams, Alfred Hammond, Peter
Alexander, John Jones and William Bailey. They, and their 
successors in office, were empowered to employ a marshal whose
authority, within a three mile limit of the church building, was
the same as the county high sheriff. This provision has never 
been repealed. 

"Peter Alexander, who gave this land, was born June 22, 1783, 
died May 15, 1856 and buried in this cemetery.He has a family plot
enclosed by an iron picket fence (something rarely seen today). 
His wife, some children and other members of the family are buried
there also. He was the grandfather of the late Mrs. Nick Oglesby..
..In the cemetery are many old graves; the readable ones date 
back to 1810. Some are vaults and others with big slabs of granite
over them. There are some Revolutionary War veterans buried here: 
Lt. Col. William Alston, died 1810; James Alston, died 1815; 
William Banks, died 1820, and so on. Thefre are also Confederate
soldiers. 

"The Church is closely interwoven with the history of the families
of Alexander, Adams, Bailey, Banks, Burch, Cleveland, Gaines, 
Hall, Hammond, Jones, McMullan, Shumate, Wansley and others."

Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson