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 Begins
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 D. 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 Colombia, 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