First Baptist Church of Oneonta

Church History
During 1904, the little town of Oneonta-two square miles, the county seat of Blount County and located in Murphree's Vally-had begun to have growing pains. Within its town limits were small Presbyterian and Methodist churches. The L&N Railroad(known as the Birmingham Mineral Division-East) served Oneonta and vicinity and had begun its development toward Gadsden and Anniston. More families began to move into the valley and the population of the country began to rise. More buildings for churches, to be more centrally located as to the population, became the demand. Murphree's Vally had grown and extended itself from Walnut Grove on the north to Village Springs on the south. The demand came to Oneonta, the county seat and centrally located.

Oneonta, Ala. 4th Sunday September 1904. At a meeting called together at the Baptist church for the purpose of organizing membership into a church of the Missionary Baptist Faith and Order, Brother S. O. Y. Ray, a Baptist minister of Birmingham, Ala., and Dr. W. M. Cole, a Baptist minister of Blountsville, Ala., were present. Bro. W. M. Cole acted as Moderator; O. A. Steele, Clerk. The following brethren and sisters were recieved into the full membership of the church: Dr. F. G. Donehoo, Mrs. F. G. Donehoo, Mrs. Delia Smith, Emma Smith, W. J. Harris, Mrs. W. J. Harris, Mrs. James Barrier, Mrs. J. H. Lowry, J. R. Wooten, Mrs. Annie Wooten, Mrs. Lucy T. Wooten, Mrs. Albert Spencer, Mr. F. J. Duke, Mrs. F. J. Duke, O. A. Steele, Mrs. O. A. Steele, G. W. Darden, all by letter. G. W. Darden was elected spokesman. Articles of Faith read by Bro. S. O. Y. Ray and adopted by vote of the members of the church. The Church Covenant was also read and adopted as read. Prayer by Bro. S. O. Y. Ray. After prayer, Church was lared organized. Conference was left open for further arrangements and the election of church officers or other buisness.

Minutes, Oct. 9, 1904. Church conference was called by Dr. F. G. Donehoo, Moderator. Report of committee to secure preacher: On motion and vote, Rev. W. C. Branham was called as pastor for the First Baptist Church of Oneonta. According to the records, on April 1, 1905, the church raised by public subscription to the sum of $1530 for the following items: $175 to Emery C. Hall, attorney-at-law for one church building lot; $1200 to W. J. Brock for building and labor; one church organ $60. The newly formed Ladies Aid Society (April 1, 1905) paid $45 on the building debt.