Old Church Cemetery, Apopka, FL. aka Apopka Church Cemetery. *See Description

Описание: 140 S McGee Ave
Apopka, Florida, USA

28.67628, -81.50103

Old Church Cemetery, Apopka, Orange County, FL

🎥 10/30/23.

The below info from Findagrave.com:

The first person known to be interred in the soon to be church yard was Erastus L Stewart in December of 1858. He was the 9 year and 7 month old son of Mathew and Cinderella Staten Stuart.

Burials continued for 140 years in the yard. Since there are unmarked graves and headstones missing information, older burials may have occurred. People of multiple faiths are buried here.

A Baptist Church of Apopka with Rev George Cader Powell as pastor formed in 1860 with 21 members. His wife was Patience Caroline Powell. Their son, Lewis Thornton Powell (AKA Paine, Payne, Wood), was executed by hanging as a conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, attempted stabbing assassination of Secretary of State William H. Seward, and plan to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson.

Powell was followed as pastor by Rev. Gandy. It didn't survive long. Most churches met in homes, businesses, or schools at the time.

The state Baptist Convention helped to restart the church when the Wekiwa Baptist Association, formed in 1870, attended the 1874 convention. Rev. Sam F. Gove started the church over again on June 12, 1880. He pastored from September 11, 1889 through August 1881. Rev. Dr. J. F. B. Mays took over and remained until he died in December of 1883. He came from Nashville, TN. He was only paid $231 a year for his service. In February 1884, a Brother Butts of Orlando was hired, but church records do not indicate that he ever preached.

In 1881, the church decided to erect a building. Zelotes Mason sold them the land near the now Edgewood Cemetery for $25.

They obtained some money from the Baptist Convention and finally finished building the first church, seen in the picture attached, in April 1883. The building committee included, W.A. Lovell, J. D. Dorsett, M. A. Stewart, L. H. McConnell, and S. A. Dunaway.

In 1881, Mrs. J. F. B. 'Mattie' Mays formed the Women's Missionary Society. The first president was Mrs. Narcissa Lovell. The first library was opened in the church in 1883.

Early Deacons:
1882-Amos J. Lockhart
1883-T. C. Darby, John C. Stewart
1884-A. L. Mills, J.D. Dorsett

On July 12, 1884, a moderator arrived from Connecticut by the name of Rev Lucian Drury. He supplemented his income by working at the Apopka School next door to the church. He started pastoring the first of 1885 and left on September 13, 1891. Walter D Jolly pastored from March 12, 1892 until his death being recorded in the records on July 9, 1893.

From October 7, 1893 until he resigned March 10, 1894, Robert E. L. Lovell pastored. He had been licensed to preach by the church in 1888.

In 1894, Dr. J. C. Porter preached for $30 per month twice a month but it didn't last long, March to August.

On the 9th of September 1894, Dr. Lorenzo Dow Geiger was hired and stayed seven years, until May 25, 1902 but lived in Apopka until his death eight years later. As a newspaperman, he helped the church board buy the "Florida Baptist Witness" in 1904.

1902 through 1906 saw a great turnover of pastors, R. W. Lambert (May to August 1902 left for seminary), E. M. C. Dunklin (September 14, 1902-September 13, 1903), D. J. Blocker (October 25, 1902-May 22, 1904), H.B. Gibbons (April 24, 1904-June 11, 1905 to be dean at Stetson), J. A. Richardson (October 22, 1905-August 5, 1906 was from Plymouth Baptist). January 6, 1907-March 5, 1908 saw the service of Evangelist Rev. R. W. Thiot.

It was south of the three-room Apopka school. Methodists first started meeting in the school in the mid-1870s. Then they built a church to the East of this property/church using it until it was uninhabitable in 1916. The Presbyterians had used the Methodist church for a while and then when the Methodists needed a building the Presbyterians loaned theirs until 1922.

The Convention had a builder-pastor they sent to help the church move. That was Rev R. N. Cate, October 15, 1908-February 28, 1909. Property at Highland Avenue and Fourth Street (now Main St) was bought in 1908 to get closer to the new middle of town.

The Greenwood and Edgewood cemeteries were constructed to the west of this original cemetery

#cemetery

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