Benui; The Church that Refuse to Die

Part III

This is the letter given to Virginia Pearson Davis that got us started hunting for the birthdate of Benui Baptist Church of Scotts Ridge. The Horn-Scott family home on the top of that high hill gave us some important people that many will remember. Mrs. Annabel Scott Hough was a prominent merchant in Montgomery, strict in her tithing duty to the Montgomery Baptist Church. Then her niece, Nonie Kelly ran the store and raised her only child, son Butch Kelly here, a very popular young man. Alief Scott, Mrs. Hough’s brother was an early day road builder type of commissioner.

Below is the letter sent to Rev. R.C. Young from Mrs. Wm. C. Young, in 1966 the first page is missing. Written as printed.

N the fall, I believe it was in November, of 1916 a converted Jew by the name of Bro. Oxsbe came into the Scott’s Ridge community and obtained permission from the school trustees to hold a revival in the school house. He preached in the school house from Friday night through Sunday. The teacher of the school had been out of the community over the weekend and when she returned she objected to the services being held in the school. Therefore the trustees canceled their permission. The teacher was Roman Catholic.

Then Mr. & Mrs. Scott, Sr. offered their living room as a meeting place for the congregation. The people met there for the rest of the revival. At the close of the revival Bro. Oxsbe offered to return for preaching over the weekends. This offer was accepted. Then in late February or early March of 1917 the church was organized and called Bro. Oxsbe as Pastor. The church continued to meet at the home of F.D. Scott until the last part of 1919 or early 1920 when F.D. Scott, Sr. deeded one acre of land to the church for a building site as long as the land was used for church purposes. The building was put up and the church moved in. By this time the church had grown to a membership of 14 and every member was a tither, something that was unusual for any church. There were I believe only nine charter members when the church was organized; Mr. & Mrs. F.D. Scott, Sr., Mabel Scott, Annabel Scott, Fielden Scott, Wm. C. Horn, Stewart Hough, Ansel Hough and a lady whose name I can’t recall. Possibly some of your members may be able to recall her name. Her husband made crossties for the railroad.

The church was named Benui at the time it was organized. Later the present building was given to the church and the church moved into it. However I’m sure some of the present membership know more about this than I do.

I hope this will be of some help to all of you.

Sincerely

Mrs. Wm. C. Horn

As Virginia Pearson Davis began her search for Benui Church history, she contacted Robbie Young daughter of long time pastor of the church who lived in Dobbin. The following is what she remembers hearing about the church. This sounds like the information is mixed and mingled with Mt. Pleasant Church. (This letter is not dated.)

Robbie Young brought me this, Robbie Young is the daughter of Pastor R.C. Young of Dobbin, who served Benui Church from 1958-1984.

In the year 1896, the month of September, a church was organized in Montgomery County in the home of a man named Caldwell. To my knowledge there were about 16 people or members. They called the church Mt. Pleasant. The name of the preachers could not be found. We find a record that a Mr. Binford was married at Mt. Pleasant Church.

The church progressed until about 1916. From about 1910 to 1916 there were a few names of members. 1909 a Miss Ballards was a candidate for baptism. Also a Mr. Smith was a candidate for baptism. One or two weddings were recorded in 1905-1909-1911. The ministers names were not known. I don’t know if Mt. Pleasant was a fore-runner of Benui or not.

In 1916 there was a preacher named Oxsbe who came into the community. He was a Jew, and reorganized the church. He got it underway again. In 1916 F.D. Scott gave 1 acre of land to the people for a church building. This was about 3 miles from where it now stands. The church was called Benui. The late Buddy Dean gave it this name. To the best of my knowledge there has been a church in the community since 1869. The community has been called Scott Ridge at least 50 years. In the year 1923 the church had a singing song directed by Bro. J.J. Head. In 1929 or 30 the church moved its location again about ½ mile, where it now stands. Bro. J.C. Harvell was pastor from 1929 to 1958.

1916 the church had about 14 members. It now has about 70 resident and non-resident members, and an attendance of about 28. It has full-time services. R.C. Young has been pastor from 1958 and is presently pastor. Mrs. Joe Teel was secretary in 1927. She is now the oldest member. She was 90 years old on April 15, 1969 and is still active and at church regularly.

Daddy’s handwritten note says these facts may or may not be correct. He gives no indication as to whom the information was from.

Robbie Young.

Westmont Ranch, Montgomery, Texas. Home of Smart Highbrow Doc, son of Color Me Smart

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