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History of King's Mills Baptist Church
Hamilton County, OH
Miami Baptist Association Minutes, 1903

      When the King Powder Company was founded and the village of King's Mills began to be built, it was the purpose of the president of the Company, the late J. W. King, to build a church to the glory of God for the use of the employes of his Company. Before this purpose was executed he was called to the Church triumphant. After his departure his widow carried out his plan, and built to his memory the J. W. King Memorial Chapel, which was dedicated in 1887. Up to this time religious services, consisting of occasional preaching, prayer-meeting and Sunday-school, under the superintendence of James Wilson of fragrant memory, had been conducted in a hall in the village. After the dedication of the King Memorial Chapel, the King's Mills Baptist church was organized and took possession of the new chapel.

      On Sunday, September 11, 1887, at a meeting presided over by Rev. Marsena Stone, D. D., letters were presented from the East Baptist church of Lebanon by A. King, Amanda King, Geo. G. King, Hattie B. King, Isadore King Stephens, Albert G. Wright, Anna M. Wright and Sallie Wright; from the Baptist church of Ironton, O., by D. K. Burkett, Mary Burkett and Myra Burkett; from the Ninth Street Baptist church of Cincinnati, by Abbie E. Haseltine and Edgar T. Haseltine.

      By baptism on the same day M. B. Haseltine and James T. Haseltine were added to the number of charter members. A council, regularly called, assembled at a later hour of the same day, and after due examination of the doctrines and covenant of the newly formed church, recognized them as the King's Mills Baptist church. For some time Dr. M. Stone, who had been largely instrumental in organizing the church, acted as supply. Later, Dr. Wyeth supplied the pulpit. In March, 1888, Rev. A. J. McIlvain became pastor, and continued his work with the church for about two years. In February of 1891, Rev. F. P. Swartz became pastor, and still fills the office, being in the thirteenth year of his pastorate.

      During all these years the church has enjoyed frequent revivals, and a considerable number have come to it by letter. But because the population of the village is largely transient most of these have become scattered elsewhere, and the growth of the church has been slow. Sometimes removals have been so frequent as to more than balance the number of additions, while frequently the energies of the church have been greatly crippled by the loss of valued workers. The church records with gratitude the large financial aid which it has received from the King Powder Company and the Peter's Cartridge Company, including the use of a parsonage, repairs on buildings, fuel, etc., in addition to regular cash contributions. Without this aid it is probable that the church would not have been able to support regular services.

      The present outlook for the church is good. While probably its membership will never be large, yet in the constant coming and going of many people who are under its influence for a little while it has large opportunity for usefulness. The seed sown must fall into much good ground to ripen, elsewhere, perhaps, but still to ripen, wheat for the garner of our common Lord.

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[From the Miami Baptist Association Minutes, 1903, p. 27f. Document from the Miami Baptist Association Office, Cincinnati. - Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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