What is now the Roquemore Missionary Baptist Church originally had the name Pine Springs, and for a time Mt. Hope, before changing to Roquemore in 1919. I do not know for certain whether Pine Springs/Mt. Hope died out and a church was organized in the Roquemore Community, or whether Pine Springs/Mt. Hope simply moved their meeting location and took the name of the community. The Pine Springs Church was organized in or around 1870. I think the church is probably continuous but with three different names. I believe the following is correct, or very close: the church was organized in 1870 as the Baptist Church of Christ at Pine Springs. The name was changed to Mt. Hope in 1884, and to Roquemore in 1919.
The following is an excerpt from a laminated page of the church minutes I was allowed to copy:
January conference 1880
Church met in conference on Saturday before the 4th Sunday in January after Services by the pastor Opened the doore of the church and Received Elder J. C. Jones, Sister Nancy M. Jones and Sister Mollie Jones by letters. Taken up Reference in regard to answering the letter from Missionary Board and agrees to answer the Board and Say to them that we are not in harmony with their proceeding and will not Send them any [funds mocilanous]. Granted letters of dismission to Brother Jessey Owens and Sister Henryetta Owens. [Read and adopted] J C Jones Mod J A Propes C.C.
The words in brackets [] are words of which I was uncertain. However, “funds,” “Read and adopted” are likely correct. The only word I could think might properly follow “funds” was “miscellaneous,” but it does not look like that. It is not clear what Missionary Board they have reference to, but other church minutes and/or comparison of Mt. Zion Association minutes around this time might eventually help clarify what board is meant.
The pastor J. C. Jones is apparently the John Jones recorded in the 1880 Rusk County census living in Precinct 7. He was 37 years old, born in Texas, listed as a “Minister.” His wife Nancy was 31 years old, also born in Texas. They had three children: Mary 13; William 10; and Maggie 2 (all born in Texas). Also in the home was Bowlin Jemison (Jimmerson?), listed as a servant. The homes counted next to them were Henry & Amanda Ascue (Askew?) and Clayton & Lydia Jones. This is probably Thomas Clayton “Claytie” Jones (1856-1926), son of Thomas Clayton “T C” Jones (1803–1861) and Mary Ann Smalley (1823–1906). “Claytie” had a brother named John, and this minister next door probably is his brother. If this is correct, the pastor J. C. Jones is John Jones, son of Thomas Clayton “T C” Jones and Mary Ann Smalley. If this is correct, the census is incorrect giving his birth in Texas. The Jones family was still in Tennessee in 1850.
His wife might be Nancy McNeese, daughter of Josephus McNeese and Lavenia Mills, who married a John Jones in Panola County in 1862. The McNeeses had a Sugar Hill post office in the 1860 census.
In the 1878 minutes, J. C. Jones is listed at Sugar Hill, which is given as Rusk County.
In the 1883 minutes, his address is Henderson and he is pastor of Pine Springs.
I found this information on Greasy Kitchen. What is now most often called Leopard Cemetery (because the John Leopard tombstone is the only one now visible) was originally called the Pine Springs Cemetery, and had quite a few graves. However, it was also known as “Greasy Kitchen” for the following reason: “Strangers traveling through the country in wagons stopped and camped at Pine Springs Church. While there, one group slaughtered a pig, beef (or bear?), and left the church so greasy and dirty it received the epithet, ‘Old Greasy Kitchen.’” “Pine Springs, Also called Greasy Kitchen,” Mary Frank Dunn, East Texas Family Records, Rosemary Whipple, editor. East Texas Genealogical Society, Volume 4, Number 2, Summer 1980, pp. 20-21.
