HISTORY

A Brief History of Cleveland First Baptist Church

In John Asplund's annual register of the Baptist denomination in North America 1790 - 1791, reports Middle Fork Saluda as being constituted in 1773, three years before the Declaration of Independence. The site of the first church building has never been found. Middle Fork of Saluda was the third largest church with 107 members. The minutes of the Bethel Association in 1791 listed John Chastain as Pastor.

History of Church Area

Year, 1750, settlement of the upper country began. There were many buffaloes: so many that 3 or 4 men with dogs could kill 10 - 20 in one day. Wild turkeys were plentiful and deer so numerous that a rifleman with a little powder and shot, could kill 4-5 in one day. A common hunter in one season could kill as many bears as would make 2-3 thousand weight of Bear Bacon. The waters abounded with beavers, otters, panthers and wildcats. There was a profusion of native grasses and canes.

From: S.C. Heritage Series 4

Ramsey's History of S.C. 1808

It is reported that the early settlers of this Cleveland section migrated across the mountain, they were of Irish and Scottish descent. Mr. James McJunkin traded the Indians a pony and some chickens for a section of this country which is now known as Cleveland. According to the old land grants of Mr. Jeremiah Cleveland, (Mr. J. H. Cleveland's grandfather) the government grants were made to the McJunkins, Evans, McCombs, Crowdan, Burnette, Daltons, Bares, Hart, and others.

From: M. L. Jarrard's Book

"The Mountaineer of Cleveland S.C." 1966 Page 132

TIMELINE

1700s

1750 - Settlement of the Upper Country Begins

1773 - Middle River Church is constituted

1775 - Revolutionary War Begins

1783 - Revolutionary War Ends

1791 - Church enters the Bethel Association

1791 - Name Changed to Middle Saluda (1791/1792)

1793 - Name Changed to Middle Branch of Saluda River (1793/1794)

1794 - Name Changed to Middle Saluda (1794/1795)

1796 - Name Changed to Middle Fork Saluda (1796/1842)

1820 Greenville County Map

PASTORS

Rev. John Chastain

1791/1796

Rev. Solomon Murphy

1797/1798

Rev. Issac Lemons

1799/1800

1800s

1803 - Dismissed from the Bethel Association to help start the Saluda Association

1843 - Name Changed back to Middle River (1843/1845)

1846 - Name Changed back to Middle Fork Saluda (1846/1861)

1861 - Civil War Begins

1861 - Name Changed to Saluda (1861/1864)

1864 - Name Changed back to Middle River (1864/1962)

1865 - Civil War Ends

Picture of Pastor William Beachum Johnson

PASTORS

Rev. David Adams

1806/1811

Rev. Issac Lemons

1813/1817

Rev. Sion (Zion) Blythe

1817/1820

Rev. Jeremiah Taylor

1821/1824

Rev. Robert Jordan

1825/1830

Rev. William King

1832/1834

Rev. Jeremiah Compton

1836

Rev. Robert Jordan

1837/1841

Rev. T. L. (Trye) Roper

1842/1843

Rev. David Blythe

1843/1847

Rev. S. Powell

1849

Rev. C. M. Phillips

1861/1863

Rev. E. Allison

1864

Rev. M. E. Smith

1865/1870

Rev. W. S. Anderson

1872

Rev. E. P. Stone

1875

Rev. J. Dill

1878

Rev. W. S. Anderson

1880

Rev. R. T. Jones

1882/1883

Rev. J. T. Singleton

1883/1886

Rev. J. A. Christopher

1890

Rev. W. B. Johnson

1891

Rev. R. M. Springfield

1894

Rev. J. T. Singleton

1896

Rev. G. E. Runion

1898/1900

1900s

1914 - World War I Begins

1918 - World War I Ends

1939 - World War 2 Starts

1945 - World War 2 Ends

1945 - Church Purchased first Bus. Mr. Robert Young was the first driver.

1947 - Home Mission Field

1948 - Mission Trip to Haiti

1951 - Present Sanctuary was dedicated in May

1953 - Church began tradition of giving out Christmas fruit bags

1960 - Church office is built

1963 - Name Changed to Cleveland First Baptist (1963 - Present)

1972 - Rev. E. Claude Neely becomes first pastor to travel to the Holy Land

1974 - Mrs. Sophia Sandy becomes oldest known member to be baptized

1979 - Church began tape ministry

1984 - Prayer Tower erected at the top of the cemetery

1998 - Mission Trip to West Virginia

Robert Young Next to Cleveland's First Bus

Present Church Sanctuary Constructed

PASTORS

Rev. E. J. Mullinax

1902; 1906/1907

Rev. G. E. Runion

1909

Rev. H. A. Taylor

1910/1911

Rev. R. M. Springfield

1912/1915

Rev. E. J. Mullinax

1916; 1920/1921

Rev. W. P. Brookshire

1922

Rev. B. F. Couch

1927/1929

Rev. Joe Foster

1930/1931

Rev. George Greer

1932/1937

Rev. John Turner

1939-1944

Rev. Marvin C. Hembree

1945

Rev. J. E. Taylor

1946/1947

Rev. W. S. Billingsley

1947/1951

Rev. Marlowe Durham

1952/1955

Rev. Fitzhugh Sanders

1956/1958

Rev. Dean Weaver

1959/1961

Rev. Landrum Reese

1962/1965

Rev. Donald Click

1966

Rev. E. Claude Neely

1967/1973

Rev. Jeese Stewart

1974/1979

Rev. Johnny Enloe

1980

Rev. Lester C. Rich

1981

Rev. Carl Pointer

1982/1988

Rev. Ralph Lee Jr.

1990/1992

Rev. Guy Longshore

1994/1998

Rev. Dan Newton

1999

Rev. John D. Peeples

1999/2005

2000s

2000 - Mission Trip to Romania

2001 - Mission Trip to North Dakota

2001 - Mission Trip to Trinidad

2001 - Mission Trip to Columbia, South America

2001 - Mission Trip to Romania

2002 - 2nd Mission Trip to North Dakota

2002 - 2nd Mission Trip to Haiti

2002 - Mission Trip to Wooton, Kentucky

2002 - 2nd Mission Trip to Wooton, Kentucky

2009 - Mission Trip to Argentina with Three Rivers Baptist Association

2011 - Construction of Gym/Recreation Center

2012 - Dedication of Gym/Recreation Center

2014 - Mission Trip to Cleveland, Ohio

2015 - 2nd Mission Trip to Cleveland, Ohio

2016 - 1st Annual Hymn Sing

2017 - Mission Trip to Rainelle, West Virginia

2019 - Mike Nix and Gilbert Whitman honored as Deacon Emeritus

2020 - Covid 19 Pandemic Starts

2022 - Covid 19 Pandemic Ends

2022 - Billy Ledford honored as Deacon Emeritus

2023 - Homecoming Celebration for Unofficial 250th Anniversary

Gym Construction

Pastor Hal Parris speaking outside during the Covid 19 Pandemic

PASTORS

Rev. Dr. William H. Parris

2006/2025