My mother, Wandie Morris, compiled a brief history of County Line Baptist Church. It is located in the church library. The older church pictures and this history are from her account This church was organized by our early Simmons forefathers and others about 1852. The earliest records were destroyed by fire.

The first building site is not far from the second and third sites. The original church building was about 300 feet west of the Pope-Johnson County line. This county line ran through the Scott house. Two generations of Scotts owned this land for years. They were Segisman 'Uncle Gis' Scott and his son, Francy Scott. This land is presently owned by the R. J. Webb family.

The first church log building was moved from its original site to north of the Scott house and was made into a barn, no longer there. We are told the seats were made of logs cut in half with pegs for legs and had no backs.

On the second site, the building was built with two-stories, the ground floor was shared by the Baptists and the Cumberland Presbyterians. The top floor was owned by the Masons. They used this and also rented it to the Modern Woodmen. This two-story building was remodeled in 1909.

Wandie Morris wrote, "Wayne remembered being there while his dad, Ivory Morris, was working on the church. I can remember my dad, John D. Bass, going there to work, too." The top story was removed in 1934. No date given for when the Presbyterians ceased using the building.

The County Line Baptist Church building was moved to its third site where the Flatwoods School property had been located in June 1958. It has been remodeled, new class rooms were added in 1970, a Fellowship Hall was built in 1974, central air installed in 1989 and a new steeple was added in 1996.

Church membership of County Line as copied by Wandie Morris from the oldest book . (1870)

Peter Simmons	1	Died Sept. 17, 1889
Sinthia Simmons	2	Dead
Jas. M. Triplett	3	Dead
Jersey Triplett	4	Dead
R. N. Simmons	5	Dead
Rebecca Simmons	6	Dead
Thomas Hunt	7	Dead
Sarah L. Hunt	8	Removed
P. W. Simmons	9	Dead
Thomas Simmons	10	Dismissed by letter 1874
Rebecca Simmons	11	Dismissed by letter 1874
Eliza Hunt	12	Dismissed By letter
Hunt	13	Dead
James M. Triplett	14	Excluded July 10,18(rest tore off)
Lucinda Emeline Triplett	15	Dismissed by letter
W.H. Triplett	16	Dismissed by letter
Mary Jane Triplett	17	Dismissed by letter
John M. Triplett 18	18	Excluded
Eli Ragain	19	Died March 14 1879
Gemima Ragain	20
Lewis Simmons	21
Catharine Simmons	22
John Simmons	23	Dead
Sarah Simmons	24
Elexander Simmons	25
W. H. Simmons	26	Dismissed by letter
Emley Simmons	27	Dismissed by letter
A. H. Ragains	28
Nancy Ann Ragains	29
(name torn) Ragains	30	Dismissed by letter
(complete name torn off)	31
W. N. Ragains	32	Dismissed by letter
Enoch Ford	33	Died July 9, 1880
Rebecca Ford	34	Died Mar.3, (ineligible)
Martha Taylor	35	Dismissed by letter
Daniel M. Kerley	36	Dismissed by letter
Ruth M. Kerley	37	Dismissed by letter
J. R. Tucker	38	Dismissed by letter
Sarah Tucker	39	Dismissed by letter
W. F. Simmons	40
Louisa Simmons	41
Brilla Ann Nichols	42	Dismissed by letter
William Nichols	43	Dismissed by letter
Luesis Nichols	44
Mary Nichols	45	Dismissed by letter
Delila Nichols	46	Dead
Ezekiel Bowman	47	Dead
Mary E. Nichols	48	Dismissed by letter
Samuel Ragain	49	Excluded-Restored-Dismissed by letter
J. C. Simmons	50	Dismissed by letter
Seala Ann Simmons	51	Dismissed by letter
Sarah Allen	52	Dead
Elizabeth A. Hunt	53	Dismissed by letter
W. H. Hunt	54	Excluded
Bartley Simmons	55	Dismissed by letter
Elizabeth Simmons	56	Dismissed by letter
William Wiseman	57	Dismissed by letter
R. C. Nelson	58	Dismissed by letter
Nancy Nelson	59	Dismissed by letter
Aaron W. Corn	60	Dismissed by letter
Jane Corn	61	Dismissed by letter
Mary Dixon	62	Died
Emaline Simmons	63	Excluded
Elizabeth Simmons	64	Dead
Louis Kerley	65
Mandy Kerley	66
Rebecca Simmons	67	Died Feb. 10, 1888
Mary F. Ragain	68	Simmons, Excluded
Lucinda C. Simmons	69	Williams
Vance A. Eskew	70	Williams Dead-June 1889
Melinda Reagan	71	Dismissed by letter
Mary J. Simmons	72	Morris
Jane Kerley	73	Dismissed by letter
G, L.Smith Reagan	74
W. N. Warren	75	Dismissed by letter
Nancy J. Row	76	Dismissed by letter
James R, Tucker	77	Dismissed by letter Nov 1873
Sarah D. Tucker	78	Dismissed by letter Nov 1873
Mary Kerley	79	Dismissed by letter
Fransis Meler	80	Excluded
Eliza J. Adois	81	Dismissed by letter
Chas. Deck	82	Dismissed by letter
Margret Deck	83
Edward D. Byrne	84	Dismissed by letter
Albert Burne	85	Dismissed by letter
Lewis Burne	86	Dismissed by letter
John R. Burne Baptized March 1879	87	Dismissed by letter
Joseph Simmons Baptized March 1879	88
P. K. M. Richy	89	Joined by letter, Dismissed by letter
Eliza Adair	90	Dismissed by letter
J. A. Richee	91	Dismissed by letter
S. A. Simmons	92	Died July 5, 1888
Bartley Simmons	93	Died Nov 188(5)
Mary E. Simmons	94	Died Jan 29, 1886
Mary Reagan	95	Modglin
Cordela Simmons	96	Gwinn Withdrew from here.
Minerva Simmons	97	Dixon Dismissed by letter
F. J. Reagan	98
S. J. Reagan	99	Baptized Oct. 19, 1890
Allen Belcher	100
Nancy Kerley	101	Simmons, Dismissed by letter
Alexander Dowdy	102
Elizabeth Simmons	103	Kerley
Thomas Simmons	104	Dismissed by letter
M. M. Kerley	105	Simmons Dismissed by letter
Cyntha E. Simmons	106	Guinn Excluded Feb. 7, 1891
A. J. Morris	107
Bell Haden	108
Jane Haden	109
Luisa Simmons	110	McKee
Bell Carington	111	Excluded
J. J. O'Brien	112
Frank Simmons	113
Ed Grant	114
Calvin Simmons	115
Thos. Simmons	116	Excluded
Grant Williams	117	Excluded
Bill Watson	118	Excluded
Beca Abbott	119	Parmley
Martha Abbott	120	Excluded
Mary Grant	121	Guin
Sidney Grant	122	Slankard
Lear Kerley	123	McKee Excluded
(This name was torn beyond reading) torn	124
Allice Reagan	125	Cletcher
William G. Maxwell	126	Died Jan 28, 1889
John Hadden	127	Excluded
Magie Hadden	128	Excluded
Mary Morris	129	Joined by recommendation
Lemiel P. Morris	130	Baptized Nov 13, 1886
Lucinda E. Morris	131	Baptized Nov 13, 1886
Noma Simmons	132	Baptized Nov 13, 1886
Marty Simmons	133	Grant Baptized Nov 13, 1886
James L. Slankard	134	Baptized Nov 13, 1886
Sarah J. Abbott	135	Restored Sept. 11, 1879
Thomas Ford	136
Riley Shelton	137	Baptized Oct. 1890
Huldah McKool	138	Dismissed by letter
John Jones	139
Sarah Jones	140
Martha Abbott	141	Restored Oct. 1891, Excluded 1892
Nice Kerley	142	Joined by letter Nov. 1, 1891
Green Ditterline	143	Baptized Nov 2, 1891
Sarilda Ditterline	144	Baptized Nov 2, 1891
Rebecca Roe	145	Baptized Nov 2, 1891
Laura Simmons	146	Baptized Nov 2, 1891
Laura Ragains	147	Baptized Nov 2, 1891
James Grant	148	Baptized Nov 2, 1891
Alonzo Butler	149	Baptized Nov 2, 1891
Mindozie Scott	150	Baptized Nov 2, 1891
Judith Hadden	151
Laura Ditterline	152
Margaret Daniels	153
Lucy Allard	154
Mindozia Ragains	155
Lillie Modglin	156
Lucinda Simmons	157
James Breeden	158

Other members with no numbers and listed in this old book were:

Mary Morris	Grant Baptized Sept 13, 1874
Sidnia Simmons	Roland Baptized 1874 Excluded
Nancy J. Gilbert	Simmons Baptized 1874 Excluded
Susan Samuels	Not baptized
Mrs. M. A. Shelton	Joined by letter

My mother, Wandie Morris copied these membership names and dates from the oldest record book. She explained, " The records were more closely kept in the back of the book than in the first part. Many of the dates made by pencil have faded. Some of the handwriting was beautifully done and some very poorly done. Some of the numbers were just as hard to read as were the letters written in a different manner a hundred years ago. I hope I made no mistake."

Back in those days it was common for members to be excluded from the roll for various reasons including missing church services.

Elder Wiseman1871Elder James Riley Tucker	1913
Elder David Ragain	1876	Elder Joe Henley	1917
Elder Carrol Morris	1877	Elder J. R. Tucker	1917
Elder A. M. Jackson	1878	Elder George Smothers	1920
Elder William Simmons	1881	Bro. Logan Dunnaway	No date
Elder James Riley Tucker	1882	Bro. Kyrum Maynor	1924
Elder G. Parmley	1883	Bro. Arthur Dunn	1926
Elder William Simmons	1884	Bro. Oscar Reynolds	1928
Elder William Simmons	1887	Bro. Elbert Elam	1935
Elder J.B. Garner	1889	Bro. Louie Simmons	1936
Elder J. J. Cates	1890	Bro. Arthur Dunn	1941
Elder J. Riley Tucker	1891	Bro. Abraham Modglin	1943
Elder J. D. Noel	1892	Bro. Elbert Elam	1945
Elder George W. Parmley	1896	Bro. Acie West	1947
Elder Wm. Henry Simmons	1897	Bro. Hugh Mighell	1951
Elder Henry Dixon	1903	Bro. Mizell Grant	1952
Elder J. R. Tucker	1905	Bro. Joe Evitts	1958
Elder E. M. Ausbrook	1907	Bro. Barney D. Sills	1966
Elder J. P. Trovillion	1912	Bro. Bill Cox	1975
		Bro. Wm 'Bud' McDannell	1991
		Bro. John Larrison	1997

Bro. Larrison resigned in 1997 to leave as a foreign missionary in Peru. In 1998, Bro. Jonah Reynolds has been preaching to 'fill in' until a pastor is elected. County Line Baptist Church continues to serve the community and supports missions throughout the world. Several descendants of the Simmons, Morris families are active members worshipping their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in the same church every week..

County Line is the mother church of Pleasant Valley and the Simpson Baptist church and under her teachings, and services, many lost souls have been saved. They have ordained many deacons to the church work of ministry. The following named brethren were ordained as ministers of the Gospel:

Elder David Ragains	August, 1853
Elder William Wiseman	Date unknown
Elder William Henry Simmons	1858
Elder James Riley Tucker	April, 1874
Elder Jerry O'Brien	January 12, 1890
Elder Thomas J. Feezor	Date unknown
Bro. Robert Grant	May, 1928
Bro. Louie F. Simmons	December 11, 1933
Bro. Mizell Grant	October, 1938
Bro. Lester Thompson	October, 1938
Bro. Albert Elam	October, 1938
Bro. Harlan Bullock	September 9, 1958
Bro. Michael C. Morris	November 9, 1969

___ Copied from records of Wandie Morris.

Folks from Flatwoods and Allard communities migrated to Peoria seeking employment during the "lean" years. There were no Southern Baptist churches in that area. Rajean Kerley Parrott recalled having a room in their home in Peoria reserved for the church services on Sundays." We were not allowed to play in there at all, it was saved for church." LaVern Simmons Clayton shared history her father, Leo C. Simmons wrote about the mission work started from the County Line Baptist Church membership.

On the night of March 6, 1943, Leo Simmons and others were praying and calling on relatives and friends to assemble together the next morning for services. " It looked almost as 'moving day for the Baptists' for they came to church with their cars filled with people. The people sat on top, in trunks and on the fenders as chairs for the classes and the worship service. I was to preach for them.

To be sure it was a great day for that group, for their efforts of the night produced 33 people in Sunday School and an offering of $12.55.

That afternoon a meeting was held and plans were made to have Sunday School and church morning and evening services in the one home. Wednesday evening services to be held in different homes. The next Sunday, March 14, 1943 there were 46 in Sunday School with an offering of $44.46. We were forced to make plans for a larger meeting place since the home was not large enough. I purposed to mortgage my car and furniture to rent a building and purchase the equipment needed, and in ten days a vacated Kroger building on 501 First Street, Peoria had been rented, seats built and it was ready. The shelves still lined the walls but served a purpose for hat racks and storage of supplies.

Plans were made to secure Rev. Fred Probst, a state missionary, to conduct a revival and assist in the formal organization of a church. Thirteen people, Ward Morris, Mildred Morris, Albert Elam, Etta Elam, Richard Simmons, Lee Simmons, Liza Simmons, Tom Grant, Mildred Clark, Mable Gann, Raymond Kerley, and Clara Kerley agreed to get their letters to start a new church. Gas stamps were donated (gasoline was rationed due to the war) and a trip over 300 miles was made to County Line Baptist Church, Flatwoods in Union Association where letters were obtained to organize the Peoria Southern Baptist Church.

In a few months the other half of the grocery building was rented, but all the store equipment must be kept stored in the building. The grocery counters and the meat show cases were used for partitions of class rooms and one class met in a walk-in ice box. In a few months more space was needed and the search was on again.

We found a 2 and 1/2 story house with full basement (located on the present location at University and College Streets) but we needed $5,000. I made arrangements with the president of the bank for the loan. However, he required more signatures. Floyd Gann, husband of Mable Simmons, Thomas W. Grant, brother of Liza J. Grant Simmons, and Leo C. Simmons, Liza and James Arthur Simmons, Glenn F. Heaney, and Carl T. Jolly signed the note on April 28, 1944 to be paid at $60.95 per month. Balance due May 1, 1952.

The document is marked paid on January 4, 1945. The Lord was truly blessing this work! At that time Raymond Kerley was clerk, Thomas Grant was treasurer, Leo C. Simmons, financial secretary."

The Peoria Southern Baptist Church was named University Baptist Church and then renamed Woodlawn Baptist Church. This church continues to glorify Christ and remains a blessing to the community and our family. ___from Leo C. Simmons records submitted by his daughter, LaVern Simmons Clayton.