History Of The Eagle Lake Church Of Christ

It is a joy to research history of various events and in our case the history of our congregation in Eagle Lake. There’s always the hazard in reviewing recorded records that they may not correspond to the memories of people that are interviewed a number of years after the events. Obviously, we have no living participant in the beginning of this church, therefore we go by what past members have said while they lived and or what was written in various publications of that time period. We know there were members of the church in Eagle Lake before the church began to meet as a body. In a previous printed history of the church, it was reported that in: “May of 1902 Brother T. B. Larimore of Mars Hill, Alabama held a gospel meeting in the region of Eagle Lake. Several members of the Wolff family were baptized during its course. Among them were: Dido Wolf (Embrey), Sheba Wolf (Feagin), and Shirley Wolf (Thompson). These additions to the Body of Christ helped to form the congregation located in Eagle Lake, Florida.” Unfortunately, in reviewing the activities of Brother T. B. Larimore in the Gospel Advocate in 1902, there is no record of his coming to Florida. Upon further research of the Gospel Advocate Issues of the 1900’s, there is a mention in the March 5, 1908 issue of a report by Brother M. H. Northcross:

“Brother M. H. Northcross recently closed a mission meeting at Eagle Lake, Fla., with eighteen baptisms. These, with thirteen other members who live in the community, have pledged themselves to meet on the first day of the week to worship the Lord. Brother Northcross has been engaged in mission work ever since the second Lord’s day in December, 1907.”

This is most likely when the church began meeting as a congregation (1907), but as Brother Northcross said, there were thirteen members living in Eagle Lake. The likelihood is that we have had members of the church in Eagle Lake more than one hundred years ago. For example, the following information about James Edward Dixon was given to me by Charlotte Brown, a descendant of Jim Dixon: “Jim Dixon and his father-in-law Francis Anthony Wolf moved to Eagle Lake from Flat Rock, Mississippi in the latter part of the 19^th century. They built the first building from wood that came from their saw mills.

Jim’s first cousin Matt Northcross was one of the first ministers in Eagle Lake. He told the members that they had the wrong name on the building. They took the Christian Church sign down and put up the Church of Christ sign. Jim and first wife Molly Wolf had two sons Isaac and Francis (Ike and Frank). After her death he married Lula Olivia Thornhill. They had seven children. This may be the reason Bro. Northcross became the minister, being the first cousin of Jim Dixon.

One note of interest that came out of the baptisms in the meeting of 1908 is a letter given to Missouri and Lucius Thornhill, excluding them from Mt. Olive Baptist Church for departing the Baptist Faith. This letter was dated 29th day of February 1908.

In the Gospel Advocate of February 17, 1910 page 208 and 209 we have another report by Brother M. H. Northcross:

Brother M. H. Northcross writes, under date of February 1: “I recently closed a meeting at Eagle Lake, Fla. With ten additions – eight baptized and two from the Baptists. My next meeting was at Mount Zion Methodist Church. The Methodists are nearly extinct there. But the Baptists hold the field and succeeded in keeping nearly all their flock away from the meeting. I preached several times to as few as eight or nine, but the few who heard was much interested and desire another meeting at an early date. I am now in a meeting at the Eloise Schoolhouse, in Polk County, with a good attendance. I hope to secure the use of a tent so that I can hold meetings at Fort Meade and Winter Haven.”

There were more mentions concerning Eagle Lake and Winter Haven made in Gospel Advocate issues of 1910 and 1911 :

Gospel Advocate – Vol. LII Num. 48 – December 1910 p 1336

Brother H. C. Shoulders is now in a meeting at Eagle Lake, Fla.

Gospel Advocate – Vol. LII Num. 49 – December 8, 1910

Brother M. H. Northcross – mail next five months should be addressed to him at Winter Haven, Fla.

Gospel Advocate – Vol. LII Num. 50 – December 15, 1910 p. 1400

Brother H. C. Shoulders is in a meeting at Bethel near Bell, Fla. His meeting at Eagle Lake, Fla. continued Eleven (11) days and closed without any additions. The meeting was greatly hindered on account of cold weather.

Gospel Advocate – June 1, 1911

Brother M. H. Northcross who spent the winter at Winter Haven, Fla., made us a pleasant visit last Saturday, ….

Gospel Advocate – Vol. LIII Num. 49 – December 7, 1911 p. 1424

Brother H. H. Morton writes: “I hope to reach Florida about December 15. I will visit and preach one, two, or more sermons at the following places: At Evergreen, near McAlpin, Dec. 17: Lake City, Dec. 24: Midway, near Lake Butler: first Lord’s day in Jan. 1912: Dade City, Second Lord’s day; Eagle Lake; Third Lord’s day; and Sweetwater, Fourth Lord’s day. My post office will be Lake City, Fla.”

Gospel Advocate – Vol. LV – February 13, 1913 p. 156

Brother M. H. Northcross changes his address from Winter Haven to Eagle Lake, Fla. A good place to soar, Brother Northcross!

Obituary in the Winter Haven Herald, Friday January 31, 1941

Rev. M. H. Northcross, 91, organizer of the Church of Christ at Eagle Lake resident of that community for 32 years, died at his home last Friday about 4:30 p.m.

Funeral Services were held from the church at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with Rev. C. H. Shoulders and Rev. Garvin Toms of Largo officiating. Interment was made at Eagle Lake Cemetery.

After Rev. Northcross organized the church he served as Pastor for 10 years before retiring. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Cynthia Northcross, a son, Dr. S. M. Northcross of Nashville.

The early congregation grew rather rapidly due in part to the homestead migration around the turn of the century. Those early families were relatively large and vibrant. Among them were the families of James E. and Molly Dixon (Molly also was from the Wolf family), Ike Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. M. O. Feagin, Sam Durrance, Kimble and Bertha Thornhill Holley , J. J. Harris, D. L. Delk, Woodie W. Thomas, W. H. Embrey, Monroe and Annie Thornhill, and Lucius H. and Missouri Thornhill. These early members met each Lord’s Day in the old school house which was then located near the lake. Brother Matt Northcross frequently filled the pulpit for the church during those early years and baptized several into Christ.

In 1918 the property where the current meetinghouse of the church now sits was set aside by the Feagin family as a cemetery for the community. At this time the church was still meeting in the old school house. In 1921 the property was then donated to the church as a location for a building in which to worship. The proposed cemetery’s designated area was changed to a piece of property then owned by the Feagins. That cemetery now lies south of the city and has been under the care of the church since it began to be used for internments and this according to stipulations set forth by the family of M. O. Feagin, who so graciously provided both pieces of property.

A wood-framed building was erected on the property donated for church use within the year. The lumber was given by the Wolf family, and the men of the congregation built the structure under the direction of Wiley H. Embrey. Its specific location was near the present site of the minister’s residence. It was an A-frame design with two doors in the front serving as its main entrances. This building served the needs of the congregation as a meetinghouse for about 30 years.

These years were difficult ones for the church in some ways, and blessings in others. There were few men in attendance oftentimes to carry on the work and worship of the church. Brother Newell Thornhill became the central figure in maintaining the work and existence of the congregation during this time. Even after the congregation had established a firm footing in the community, Newell continued his service and leadership in the church for several decades. By God’s grace the work grew and prospered.

Numerous men filled the preaching chores on an occasional and full-time basis during the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. One of the most successful ministers to serve the congregation at that time was Lonnie Polk, who worked for the church three different times and who baptized a number of current members and their families at Eagle Lake. Charles Dagenhart was another who served successfully during these years. Some of the men who served by holding gospel meetings during those years at Eagle Lake were: F. W. Smith, F. B. Srygley, H. Leo Boles, E. A. Elam, N. B. Hardeman, Price Billingsley, and A. G. Hobbs -- names that live in Restoration History.

In 1949 Wesley and Rettie Barton moved to Eagle Lake, where Brother Barton would serve, as the evangelist for the next 9 years before failing health would force his retirement from full-time work. These years, like those before, would be eventful ones for the congregation. A new building was erected as a meetinghouse, and with a number of renovations is the structure now serving the church here. Brother Barton was a prime mover in the building program; urging the brethren to sell some of the property to help provide the capital needed to pay for the work on the more modern structure.

A lot was deeded over to Brother Barton and his heirs in perpetuity for his labors at Eagle Lake. He built a residence on the property. John Camp filled in for Brother Barton during a 6-month period due to a stroke suffered by the latter. The period also witnessed the appointment of the first elders for the church in August of 1955. They were Wesley Earl Barton, eldest son of the minister, and Newell Thornhill. After Wesley Earl moved from Eagle Lake, James A Dixon and Victor H. Barton were appointed to serve as elders with Brother Thornhill. For 17 years Newell Thornhill served faithfully as an elder of the church until the death of his wife Mildred. Brother Victor Barton served for 45 years in this capacity until his death this year. Among them have been: Preston Daniels, Bob Faneuf, C. L. Thornhill, F. H. Summerville, and Charles Thornhill. Brother C. L. Thornhill has served as elder continuously for over 40 years. He serves today along with Brothers Charles Thornhill, Calvin Hubbard and Bill Thornhill. We today owe a great deal to the efforts and influence of these good men who have ably served the Lord as shepherds of the flock.

Deacons have also played an important part in the work of the church at Eagle Lake. The first group of deacons appointed was Louis Franklin (Frank) Batchelor, Victor Barton, and Austin Dixon. When Brother Victor and Brother Austin became elders; John Camp, Grady Fowler, C. D. Hightower, and L. H. Thornhill were appointed deacons for the church. The names of all those who have served in this office are too numerous to list, but to each we again owe a great debt. Berle Evans serves as a deacon at this time.

Many ministers have filled the pulpit at Eagle Lake on a full time basis. Some of the ministers since the 1940’s have been Wesley Barton, Lonnie Polk, Clifford Dixon, Russell Livingston, L. B. Chastain, Dale Flowers, Everett Brown, Bill Norton, Ernest Underwood, James Hall, Daniel Denham, Glen Willcut, Gary Burford and at present Gene Ellmore.

Let us not forget the numerous members who have at one time or another been associated with the church at Eagle Lake. Their name is “Legion.” Numerous families – some large and some very small – have been reared, have lived, and even have died at Eagle Lake. Their children and grandchildren and in some cases their great grandchildren have cut their teeth on the gospel in the classrooms and auditoriums of the congregations meetinghouses. There have been a number of men, that later became gospel preachers because of their roots in Eagle Lake.

The aim of the church for the future is growth. As she prepares herself for this 21^st century, may she never forget her heritage from God and that of those who have pioneered the way at Eagle Lake. Let her labor in love with one eye on the future and its opportunities for growth and the salvation of men’s souls, but let her also keep one eye firmly fixed on her legacy in the Scriptures and in her rich history.

The original history was collected and compiled by Brother Daniel Denham in 1987. It has been updated with additional information and material by Bill Thornhill in 2002. Additional information will be added as research continues. If anyone wishes to contribute pictures or information about the church, it will be greatly appreciated.