Russell Lands History

Including

A Greatly Expanded Version

4, 2020

Liberty Church

By Sallie Pitchford Harris, wife of Dr. Ernest C. Harris, Sr.

Tallapoosa County a History, 1976

Liberty Church, located two miles southwest of Ourtown was the first Missionary Baptist Church in the county west of the Tallapoosa River.  Basil McGintry’s “History of the East Liberty Baptist Association,” lists this church in the 1840 churches, with a total of 16 members.  It was founded in 1845 or 1846 by Jesse Russell and Wilkins Stevens.  Both had emigrated from Georgia to the new Alabama.  Both were charter members and Mr. Stevens gave four acres of land for the church and cemetery.  Marion Russell, a son of Jesse Russell; John Robinson; Milton Russell; Bill Ballard who married a daughter of Jesse Russell; Mary Frances, Tim and Jim Russell, nephews of Jesse; were also charter members.

 

From the time of its organization until after the Civil War, the slaves worshiped in the same church with their owners.  A part of the church was set aside for them to worship, and they are also buried in the cemetery.

 

James L. Thompson, a grandson of one of the church founders Milton Russell, was ordained to preach at this church on September 8, 1875.  He later became prominent in Baptist Church work throughout Alabama.

 

Just after the Civil War, the railroad was built across the upper part of Tallapoosa County and the town of Youngsville became a little town on the railroad.  It began to grow and prosper and the name was changed to Alexander City.  Some of the members of Liberty Church moved to the new town where there were better advantages and opportunities of progress for them and their families.  Among these were Benjamin Russell, a son of Jesse Russell; W. Luther Waters, a grandson of Jesse; Henry Willis, John Robinson, L.M. Thomas, and others.

 

Benjamin Russell had served as a Deacon in Liberty Church and soon became a Deacon in the First Baptist Church in Alexander City.  Marion Russell became church clerk after the War and was church clerk until his death in 1896.  He was also postmaster of the Bulger’s Mill post office until his death.  A grandson of Jesse Russell, Lem B. Pitchford, was the last church clerk and served from 1910 to 1925.

 

Miss Cue Funderburk, who is buried in the church cemetery, served as church organist from 1897 until services were discontinued in 1925.

 

Dr. Joe Russell, who is buried in the old graveyard, settled several miles east of Liberty Church and raised his family of a son, Will, and two daughters, Mrs. Tom Upshaw and Mrs. George C. Radford.  Grave markers record the names of other members such as Bulgers, Hicks, Bankstones, Richardson, Towns, Willis, Peoples, Thompson, Smith, Robinson, Colley, Thomas, Daniels, Meadows, Brown, Masons, Ballard, Pitchford, Welch, Reams, Funderburk, Sanford, Pearson, Sealey, Chapman, Woodall, Causey and Baker.

 

Today, the white painted church stands empty but is a reminder of the pioneer days of Tallapoosa County.

Russell Lands History

Including

A Greatly Expanded Version

4, 2020

Russell Lands History

Including

A Greatly Expanded Version

4, 2020

Russell Lands History

Including

A Greatly Expanded Version

4, 2020