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The Free Will Baptist Church of Flat River was organized in 1880 by the Revs. Jerry Wood, John Wood and J. H. Culley. The charter members were W. H. Adams, George Lincoln and wife, Maggie Lincoln, Charley Hale and wife, Joe Puckett, Joe Perry and wife, Mrs. Lou Earnest, Martha Turley and Mary Harris.
The first church was located on West Main Street on property that is now occupied by the Presbyterian parsonage. In 1918 Rev. T. J. Mann was the pastor and he and the Board of Trustees arranged with the Presbyterian Church to trade the West Main Street property for some property in Norwine Town. The first meeting in the Norwine edifice was held March 20th, 1918, with Rev. Mann officiating and there were just eight present in the congregation. They were Deacon John Connelley, Wade Adams, Mrs. Isabel Henderson and daughters, Hally and Alberta, and son, George, and Everett Turnbaugh and one unidentified young man. Shortly after this meeting, Rev. W. C. Hill took over pastorate duties and in 1920, when the congregation had outgrown their quarters, the building was enlarged. Again under the guidance of Rev. H. M. McAdams in 1928 and 1929 the church found the place of worship too small to accommodate the congregation and the old frame building was torn down and replaced with the present glazed tile building.
Ministers who have served include Reverands J. H. Culley, John Wood, J. H. Nelson, J. D. Flannery, W. C. Hill, S. M. Ferguson, Gus Sims, L. N. Beard, F. J. Brothuton, H. M. McAdams and James F. Miller, the present pastor.
The oldest living member of the church is Mrs. Isabel Henderson, affectionately known throughout the community as "Aunt Bell Henderson." Born in O'Bion County, Tennessee, July 17, 1866, Mrs. Henderson (then Miss Mabel Newhouse) came to Bismarck in 1881. There she met George W. Henderson and seven years later the couple were married. They moved to Doe Run in 1893 and brought their family to Flat River in 1894. There were two children born to them prior to that time, Luther and Elmer. Upon arriving in Flat River Mrs. Henderson began attending the Free Will Baptist Church and she has been in regular attendance since that date.
None of the charter members are now living, but investigation discloses children of these members now living are: Frank, Tom and Ed Adams, sons of W. H. Adams; Rev. Claude, Joe and Ira Lincoln, sons of George and Maggie Lincoln. Rev. Claude Lincoln lives in St. Louis and is pastor of a Free Will Baptist Church in that city. Joe Lincoln now resides in Joplin, Mo. Surviving Charley Hale are two daughters, Mrs. Frank Upchurch and Mrs. Ed Cawley. Mrs. Mary Harris left one daughter, Mabel, who has since married. Mrs. Lou Earnest is survived by two sons and a daughter, John Earnest of St. Louis, Sam Earnest, who has a farm near Bellview, and Mrs. Robert Jones, who lives in St. Louis.
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