As I begin to try to give you much history of the Pursley church of Christ, I do so with fear and trembling.  The reason for that is because I have never seen much of its history.  Further more I never talked to my parents very much about this topic and beyond that I never did ask my Tracy grandparents about their ancestry or that of the church at Pursley or Sistersville.  In doing my research on my Ingram, Tracy, Garman, McIntire genealogy I did find out that their ancestors moved to Tyler county from other places and brought their religious connections with them.  The Tracy's moved to Iuka, Tyler County from Monroe County, Ohio some time between 1870 and 1880.  They were member of the Christian church.  That was what they were called at that time.  The McIntires came to Tyler County from Enterprise in Harrison County, VA and were Methodist.  The Ingram's came from Monongalia County and were Methodists.  The Gramans moved here from Green County, PA and I don't know if they were members of the Christian church before they moved to Tyler County or were converted after they moved here.

Tyler County seemed to be the destination of many people whose ancestors had settled in Monongalia County.  My great great grandmother grew up in Monongalia County.  She was the daughter of Christopher Core, a pominent settler along Dunkard Creek.  By 1835 the students of Alexander Campbell were going to the small towns and villages preaching the Restoration plea on using hte Bible and it alone as a source of the faith and practice of the church.  On March 28, 1935 a group of people signed an agreement to establish a church guided by that Restoration plea.  Of the 36 people who signed that agreement was Rebecca Core Shriver.  She was married to Benjamin Shriver.  They moved to Tyler County in 1853 and settled near Middle Island Creek near the village of Next.  Benjamin and Rebecca had several children one of who was Rachel Ann.  She became the wife of David C. Garman whose parents were William and Jeremiah Key Garman.  David's and Rachel's children were Emma Roselie, who married W.J. Tracy, John W. Garman who married Ida Weakley, Eva who married Charles Smith, James Okey, and Fred Barton who married Coe Kile.  One of the records that I have states that David Garman was an elder in the Christian church for 25 years.  I am inclined to believe that David's service as an elder was not at Pursley.  He lived on the Hickman Hollow road less than a mile from the Next road.  The Christian church may very well have been meeting in the Sugar Grove school house.  This is my reasoning and it may very well be in error.  If any of you know anything that could shed light on the history of the Pursley church or in the Next vicinity, please so so by contacting me.

Some of my information comes from a book called "Chronicles of Core" written by Earl Core.  He grew up in Monongalia County and is related to Christopher Core.  Earl lists a number of families who moved to Tyler County.  Besides the ones I have already mentioned were families of Sines, Piles, Tennants, Fettys, Sutton, Lemlys, and many more.

There are many families that have been involved in the Pursley church over the years.  I will name some that I can remember.  However, I know that I'll leave out several that I should remember, but I'll try anyway.  Milroy, Kenneth, Everett, Mary Kelch; Henry, Blanch, Hilda, Hannah Kelch; Ben, Benny, Playford Kile; Tracy's-Will, Emma and their seven daughters; Tom Tracy; Emmerson and Callie Doak; Tom Everly; John Garman and his family: Ida his 1st wife, Hattie his 2nd wife, Grace, Rose, David.  The Wells family including Paul and Nile.  Ben Chapman, Emery and Helen Heintzman, Lon Core, wife Anna, David, Virginia, Doris.  "That's all folks!" My mind refuses to dredge up many more.  I know you will know that I've missed many names of people that have meant a lot to the Pursley church.  If you will, send me anything you may know about Pursley church history and I'll revise this page.

James M. Ingram
104 Wynlands Drive
Goodlettsville, TN  37072
615.859.7783
jim.ingram@comcast.net