Up on Peeled Chestnut Mountain

Date: Jan 1992
Surnames/tags: Bailey Boyd

This free-space profile provides a transcription of the article "Up on Peeled Chestnut Mountain" written by Ken Bowen and originally published in the January 1992 edition of The Bramwell Aristocrat of Bramwell, West Virginia. A PDF containing scans of the original newspaper article can be found here.

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Boyd’s Chapel has served the mountain community for 116 years. Its history is the history of the settlement of the whole region.

About the Author Ken Bowen last appeared in the Aristocrat with the story of his hometown, Goodwill, W.Va. A Navy veteran with degrees in Creative Writing and Geography from Cal State/Sonoma and U.C. Bowen has had a lifelong interest in Coalfield History.

Boyd’s Chapel, a McDowell County landmark, is a church in Leckie, West Virginia where regular church services have been held since 1875.

Around 1840, Zachariah and Rachel Glandon Bailey left Grayson County, Virginia. After living briefly near Jeffersonville (Tazewell) they moved on, and settled, in 1844, along the Peeled Chestnut Trail on Little Creek in what is now McDowell County; thus becoming the first permanent settlers in that area. They settled about two miles above the present Town of Anawalt.

Zachariah was an excellent hunter and farmer, and he settled on Little Creek for the same reason the Shawnee Indians went there years earlier -- an abundance of game. Land was also very cheap since the fertile fields and valleys were only used occasionally for cattle grazing by farmers from Tazewell County.

Soon after Zachariah and Rachel established their home, they were joined by other families who also loved the serene valley of Little Creek. By about 1860, the community had a population of about 50, several farms and a log school. But they never had a church, nor even a layman to conduct church services. There were circuit riders like Jacob R. Payne, Daniel H. Carr, Gasper Garner, Tyler Frazier, and the great Robert Sayers Sheffey, who stopped and held camp meetings in the summer months as they passed through the area, but their circuits were composed of several counties making their visits several months apart.

Members of Boyd’s Chapel Leckie congregation who survived the mine explosion at Pocohontas in 1884. (L. to R. - seated) G.W. Sadler, Joe Lambert (standing) O.P. Bailey, A.H. Lambert, and Harvey Bailey.

In late September 1864, the people of Little Creek needed a large supply of salt to cure their meat for the coming winter. So they decided to send a group of older men with pack horses to Saltville for the salt. They knew if they sent their young men, and they encountered units of the Union, or Confederate Armies, they would be enlisted into service. Some of the men like John Bailey had enlisted voluntarily, but others had been enlisted in Confederate companies of Mercer and Tazewell Counties while trading pelts in Jeffersonville (Tazewell). The community's manpower was dreadfully low, and they could not afford to have any more of its young men away from home, or their crops would be lost. According to the story, Samuel Lambert, John O. Perdue, John Smith, David Marrs, Thomas Lambert, Zachariah Bailey (age 76), and some others volunteered to go after the salt.

As the group was riding through Russell County, Virginia, they received word that a fierce battle was raging in Saltville; so they made camp to await the outcome. As they huddled around the campfire discussing alternate plans to get salt if the works in Saltville were destroyed by the Union Army, they were joined by a circuit rider.

He was Charles Boyd, a dedicated preacher from the Holston Methodist Conference. As they were breaking bread together, the men from Little Creek explained to the preacher the difficulty in getting circuit riders to their community, and asked Boyd to send someone. Boyd promised the men that he would send a rider to the settlement of Little Creek, as soon as he could.

The exact date as to when the circuit rider, Isaac Charles Newton Boyd, started preaching at Little Creek is vague. But records show that he began his ministry soon after he was released from the army in 1865. It was probably about this time that Isaac appeared at Little Creek, fulfilling the promise that his brother Charles had made to Zachariah Bailey.

Peeled Chestnut Mountain church began as a log cabin, shown here with its congregation in 1906. The photos that accompany this article were provided to the author from the collection of Cecil R. Sadler.

Isaac was the son of the Rev. Jonathan Boyd. He was born in Russell County in Oct. 1847. He served as a chaplain with the Confederate Home Guard during the final two years of the Civil War, and was stationed near Abingdon. When the war was over Isaac was sent to tell the citizenry of Lee’s surrender. He barely escaped serious injury when he told a woman of the surrender. She was making soap and attacked him saying he was a liar, and that Lee would never surrender. She threatened to throw hot soap on him, but Isaac escaped. He later moved to Buchanan County.

Isaac was a devout man who, because of his faith in God, endured the hardships as he rode horseback over trails that were mere bridle paths. On every ride he faced the hot sun, snow, or cold rain; sometimes encountering wild animals and wild men. Isaac carried a hymnbook and bible in his saddlebags and a rifle in his scabbard.

Ezra Smith remembered a story about when Isaac was crossing Mud Fork on his way to preach at Little Creek. He was encountered by one of the local outlaws who demanded his money. Isaac calmly dismounted, gave the man a thrashing with his horse whip, remounted and rode away without saying a word.

Zachariah and Rachel Bailey are usually recognized as holding the first Methodist society in their home in that entire area. At first, the congregations were small with only those persons in Little Creek attending, but as word spread about Isaac Boyd and the church meetings, people came from Blackwold, South Fork, Terry, Elkhorn, Belcher (Keystone), and Lamberts (Northfork Hollow and Crumpler). Sometimes they would come a day early and camp out in a pasture so they would be rested for the next day’s service, and so they wouldn’t miss any of Isaac Boyd’s powerful preaching.

‘Cabin Chapel’ was replaced with a frame structure on the same site. This photo shows the ‘new’ Boyd’s Chapel and its members in 1915.

The church was probably the object that caused some families like the Cartwrights, Lamberts, and Belchers to move to the Little Creek area from other parts of the county; just as coal was the catalyst that moved families from Little Creek to Pocahontas in 1883.

About 1873, John A. Bailey let the congregation meet in a room that he had built onto his cabin, but as the church grew the room quickly became too small. So in 1875, the first Boyd’s Chapel was built on the exact spot the church stands today, thus becoming the first Methodist Church in McDowell County. John A. and Mary Terry Bailey, firm believers in Christianity, gave the land and did a good portion of the work on the church.

Log cabin home of John A. Bailey had an addition (left) that served as a church from 1873-75. When the congregation outgrew the facility, Bailey (shown below) donated land on which to build the first log church that bore the name Boyd’s Chapel.

Cecil Sadler said his dad, George, gave him a good description of the old log church, “It was built mostly with hickory and oak logs, hand-hewn and hand dressed, between 18 and 24 inches thick. The big logs were notched on each end so they wouldn’t slip, and clay was daubed between the logs to keep out the wind and rain. The roof was made of hand-planed yellow poplar boards, most of which were two inches thick and two feet wide. The pews were made of hand-planed split logs with two wooden legs on each end that were pressed into holes which had been drilled with a brace and bit. The mourner’s bench was also made of split logs. It was twice as long as the pews, and placed in front of the elevated altar for new converts seeking salvation. A lectern for the preacher was in the center of the altar with wooden lamp stands on each side so the preacher could read from the bible. Lamp light was used in practically every service in Boyd’s Chapel because of its small windows. Additional oil lamps and hymn books were placed on shelves along the walls on either side of the altar. The back wall had wooden pegs pressed into the logs for the people to hang their coats. A pot-bellied stove was located in the center aisle of the church with a pipe running out of the wall.”

John A. Bailey was the furniture maker for the Little Creek community, and is credited with making all of the boards and furnishings for Boyd’s Chapel. After the church was finished, Isaac Boyd found someone in Buchanan County, Virginia, to donate an old organ to the church; but there was one problem. He could haul the organ by wagon no farther than Jordan Nelson’s cabin, in what is now Pocahontas. So James Bailey, William Carter, John Belcher, George Cartwright, James Money, Joseph Perdue, William Smith, John Short, Henry Franklin, and John Lambert met the wagon at Nelson’s cabin and, working in shifts, carried the organ over Peeled Chestnut Mountain, and down Tug Hollow. After more than six hours of extremely hard labor, they arrived at the church with only a few minor scratches on the organ.

Isaac continued to ride the circuit and preach at Boyd’s Chapel until an accident caused him to take a long well-deserved rest in 1880. Joseph A. Cook was elected pastor. Rev. Cook was pastor for one year, and upon his resignation, was replaced by William Horton. Then, due to the death of Rev. Horton, Isaac Boyd was elected unanimously by the congregation of the church. Boyd’s health had improved some, but he didn’t have the vigor and stamina he had when he was riding the circuit. Isaac loved Boyd’s Chapel, and was determined to pastor once again the church that was named after him. There are stories about Boyd preaching with so much power during the years 1882-83 that the angels would sing in the hills. In 1884, Isaac’s health forced him to resign for the final time. Frank Farley replaced him as pastor.

An early custom at Boyd’s Chapel was for the whole congregation to gather at the mourner’s bench and pray for the needs of the community. On one occasion they badly needed rain because the Summer had been dry, and their crops were dying in the fields. They also wanted the flow of corn liquor to stop, that was being transported to all the surrounding communities from a still on South Fork. The pastor instructed the people to pray earnestly for rain.

The congregation saw some dark clouds forming overhead after the first service as they filed out to have dinner on the ground. At the beginning of the second service, thunder was heard in the distance. About thirty minutes later, rain was coming down in torrents and the thunder was so loud it was shaking the logs on the church. Most of the congregation were sitting on the edge of their bench like they wanted to get up and run, but the pastor kept preaching as if nothing was happening.

That year was one of the best for crops, and two days later, the mail rider brought news that during the storm on Sunday, the moonshine still on South Fork had been blown up by a bolt of lightning.

In 1912, under Pastor J.W. Christian, the congregation had outgrown the church. So the old log building was torn down, and replaced by the frame structure that stands today. The membership roll reveals that during the thirty-seven years the log church served the community of Little Creek, one hundred and thirty eight names were added to the roll.

In 1925, under the Rev. G.T. Jordan, the floor was replaced and the pulpit was moved from its original location to its present position.

In 1946, under the pastorate of Rev. W.M. Bowling, the ceiling was lowered six feet and two Sunday school rooms were built on the back.

In 1948, under W.F. Byrd, sheet rock was installed on the inside and shingles were installed outside.

Boyd’s Chapel cemetery is the final resting place of many of the area’s pioneer families. A funeral is shown in the photo, taken in 1924.

In 1954, under W.D. Stone, the basement was built, and the furnace was installed.

In 1957, under Rev. Charles Rogers, two rooms were added to the end of the church, and the kitchen was installed.

In 1975, under Rev. John M. Lafferty, the interior of the church was remodeled.

In May of 1976 the stained glass windows were dedicated.

In 1986 the church pews were padded, classrooms were paneled, and carpet installed.

In June of 1987, Rev. John M. Lafferty retired, ending twenty-seven years as pastor at Boyd’s Chapel. Bob McKinney was elected pastor for 1987. Ira Hill has been the pastor since 1988.

Today, Boyd’s Chapel is receiving another face-lift with a new roof, and the remodeling of the belfry.

Over the years, great spiritual meetings have taken place within the confines of the walls of Boyd’s Chapel. Isaac Boyd had several great meetings. Robert Sayers Sheffey, the great circuit rider, held revivals at the Chapel. Andrew H. Rowe and Daniel H. Carr, renowned as great evangelists, had powerful spiritual meetings there. Boyd’s Chapel had its greatest and fastest growth in the late 1930’s when Andrew Rowe held his revivals there.

Margaret Tilley stated that since about 1920, Boyd’s Chapel has had only four pianists and organists. They were Ella Mae Brooks, Nanny Dillon, Lillian Lovelace Holt, and Sylvia Pack.

The trustees, from about 1920, have been John Hampton, Ezra Smith, Bill Little, John Hardy, Bob Saddler, and Charles Cartwright is the present trustee.

In any age of a church there are always those who carry a very heavy burden for the church and community. And at Boyd’s Chapel people think of: Zachariah, John A., James Wesley, and Harry Bailey; Bessie Lovelace; John Hampton; Thomas and George Cartwright; Newton Lambert; Jance Lovelace Short; Myrtle Farley; John Hardy; and John M. Lafferty.

As the years pass, people wither, but the spirit and rich heritage of the founding fathers of Boyd’s Chapel lives on with the present members of Ira Hill, Margaret Tilley, Sylvia Pack, Blanche Lovelace, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cartwright, Tavia Smith, Lillian Holt, Sheila Brooks, Dessie Evans, Linda Marrs, Idia Sadler, Carol Parks, and Velvie Blevins. It is on these that the Chapel’s spiritual mantle of responsibility has fallen.