Hickory Grove

In Marion township, has had eight pastors since its organization on the 4th Saturday in August, 1843. Benjamin Terrell, from 1843 to 1858; James Porter, from March, 1858, to October, 1859; James Burton, from October, 1859, to October, 1860; Bartlett Anderson, from October, 1860, to 1863; W. L. T. Evans, from 1863, to February, 1879; J. G. Swetnam, from February, 1879, to December of the same year; M. F. Williams, from December, 1879, to December, 1881, and J. D. Smith, from March following to the present. The church edifice was completed in 1846. It is a frame structure and cost $800. Among the original members were John and Emily Briscoe, Hugh Miller, Mary Miller, John Walkup, Lucinda Walkup, Gabriel Alexander, Lucinda J. Alexander, Nathaniel S. Bullock, Rebecca Bullock, H. Haley, Rhoda Haley, E. Haley, S. S. Embree, Elender Embree, James Williamson, O. C. Smith, Hannah Brown, John W. Ash, Naomi Ash, J. Y. Miller, AnnE. Miller; Rhoda Turner, Mary King, D. Bates, Edmond Ash, Elizabeth Evans, Diana Williamson and Charles W. Embree. The membership is now 175. Mr. J. W. E. Cosby is superintendent of the Sabbath-school, which numbers 50 scholars. The church is located in a small village, the post-office of which is Ash.

The first church built in western Monroe County was seven miles east of Cairo at the first crossroads in Monroe County. The church was made of logs with logs to sit on, called the Hickory Grove Church. In 1888, there was a frame building built just south of the old church in a grove of hickory trees of which several still stand. Some of the early preachers were Smith, Lynn, Colborn (W)hite, Neeley, Alex Jones, (W)are, Coleman White, Green. The last minister was Klinken(b)org. There were services held regularly until 1972. The church is in good repair. The leaders in the church back in the eighties were J.W. Cosby, (W).H. Bennett, Billy Steele, John (H)enley, Wallace Pollard, Louise Bennet George and Molly Smith and W.G. Alexander. It is now called the Hickory Grove Baptist Church. (??)r settlers located around (??) and the village was called Ash.