New Hope Baptist Church at Iron Mountain

J. W. D. Creath wrote in 1850, “From this point [Dallas County, rlv] I travelled about 200 miles South-east, to attend the Soda Lake Association, which commenced on Saturday, before third Sabbath of this month, with the New Hope church, Rusk county. This is, also, a flourishing body, on the east side of the Trinity river, (the other on the West.) [That is, the Trinity River Association which was previously described, was on the west side of Trinity River, and Soda Lake Association was on the east side of Trinity River, rlv].” (“Texas Correspondence,” Sept. 25th, 1850, from J. W. D. Creath. South Western Baptist, Wednesday, October 23, 1850, p. 2)

The New Hope Church of the Soda Lake Association was in southern Rusk County. It is listed in the 1856 minutes of the Soda Lake Baptist Association, with an Iron Mountain post office. The delegates to the association were B. F. Stamps, A. S. Meckeborough, and H. King.[1] New Hope’s pastor was M. M. Wallace, and the church had 50 members in 1856.[2] Wallace mentions this church in 1855 correspondence with The Texas Baptist:

“When this meeting [in Crockett, Houston County, rlv] closed, brothers Paxton and Rowland, and the writer, met at New Hope Church, Rusk county, on Saturday before the third Sabbath in September. We preached four days, and truly we had a refreshing time, for our God came near us. One dear soul professed to find peace in believing in Jesus Christ. Eight members were added to the church during the meeting, by experience and baptism. And thus our meetings ended. To God be all the glory, and we will praise him for ever and ever.”[3]

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[1] Britton F. Stamps attended the formation of the Mt. Zion Association the next year (1857) as a delegate from the Mt. Carmel church. A. S. Meckeborough (sic) was the brother of Mary Ann Mickleborough/ Micklebrough, wife of William Howerton. William and Mary Ann were both members of Mt. Carmel church. H. King might possibly be Harrison King, who is buried at Sacul, which is in the general area.
[2] Southwestern Seminary Library in Fort Worth, which has the 1856 minute, also has a minute from 1854. New Hope Church is not listed in it.
[3] “Letter from Brother Wallis,” The Texas Baptist, Wednesday, October 31, 1855, p. 2. “Brother Wallis” is Milas Milford Wallace (1810-1867), who is buried at the Jacksonville City Cemetery,. The correspondence is dated Nacogdoches Co., September 24, 1855, and reports on protracted meetings in four churches he pastored: Palestine, Cherokee County; Mt. Zion, Rusk County; Crockett, Houston County; and New Hope, Rusk County.