Macon County was created on Dec. 14, 1837, from Houston and Marion counties. The 91st county, it was named for the recently-deceased General Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina. General Macon served in the U.S. Congress for 37 years and ran for U.S. vice president. It is said his name was chosen because many of the settlers of this area came from North Carolina. The earliest inhabitants were the Cherokee, Muskogee (who later became part of the Creek Nation), and Uchee Indians.
In 1838, the first county seat was chosen when the county’s inferior court selected the Lanier community. The Georgia General Assembly made it official on December 29, 1838 when Lanier was incorporated as a town. The name for the community was selected by the earliest settlers who had come from Lanier County and the name stuck. A Methodist Church was established at Lanier around 1840 and was served by a circuit-riding minister.
The Central of Georgia Railroad was built through Oglethorpe in the 1850s and the opportunity followed. As Oglethorpe grew, the legislature called for referendums on moving the seat away from Lanier and in 1856, a referendum was confirmed, adopting Oglethorpe as the new county seat. By 1858, the community of Lanier had dwindled considerably and that year, the circuit-riding minister who served this region recorded that the congregation at Lanier was struggling to maintain its membership. The church closed its doors that year.
The exact date isn’t clear, but sometime in the next decade, the church was moved from the community of Lanier to a nearby community called Pine Level, when it was renamed for its new location. It was reorganized in 1869, following the Civil War.
In regards to the consumption of liquor, we found an interesting entry in the Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, 1885, page 542, which said the following: “Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the passage of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person, or persons to sell, barter, or exchange any spirituous or malt liquors within four miles of Pine Level Church and the academy located within fifty yards of said church, in Macon County.”
In 1931, Pine Level was on the Oglethorpe Circuit with Corinth, Ideal, and Oglethorpe with Rev. W. E. Dennis as pastor. They had a membership of 75 at that time.
The view of the sanctuary from the front doors, looking at the pulpit. The simple design of the space is elevated by the natural light.
The view from the pulpit, looking across the pews and back towards the front doors.
The view of the pulpit and offering rail at the front of the sanctuary.
The tall lancet windows inside the sanctuary fills the space with light.
According to the History of Macon County, Georgia (p.529), "S.T. Murray moved from Crawford County to Macon County in 1862. He was eligible for service in the War Between the States, but was detailed by the Government of the Confederacy to make potash, a work he continued until the end of the War in 1865."
From the newspaper obituary for Mr. Maffett: "The death of Mr. D. T. Maffett occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. G. C. Walker at Marshallville, at a late hour Friday night, June 18th. Mr. Maffett took his bed less than a week before his death and it was not thought that his condition was critical, but owing to his extreme old age he succumbed to his ailment in a very short time. Mr. Maffett was born in Newberry Co., S.C. in 1835, and had he lived to September, would have seen his eightieth mile post. He came to Georgia in 1861 and settled on the old Maffett homestead where he lived for forty years, moving to Oglethorpe about ten years ago, making his home here up to a few months ago, when he went to Marshallville live with his daughter, Mrs. G. C. Walker. Mr. Maffett was married in S.C. just a few months before moving to this county to Miss Elizabeth Sligh who preceded him into the Great Beyond about eight years ago. To this happy couple were born six sons and five daughters. Sons: T. E. Maffett, J. D. Maffett and H. E. Maffett of Montezuma; R. I. Maffett of Fitzgerald; Claude Maffett of Americus and Dave Maffett, who died at the ago of nineteen. The daughters: Mrs. G. C. Walker of Marshallville, Mrs. David Murray of Oglethorpe; Mrs. Will Daniels, who died at Oglethorpe about ten years ago, Mrs. H. B. Williams, who died at the old home about twenty-three years ago and Miss Leila Maffett, who died at the age of thirteen." First Lieutenant, Company A, 10th Battalion, Georgia Infantry, CSA
When he was 18 years old, Owen Hobbs enlisted at the rank of private in Georgia's 8th Infantry, Company C. He survived the war and upon his return, married Sarah Cumby.
The view of Pine Level Church from the cemetery.
ORGANIZED
1840
LOCATED IN
Macon
DENOMINATION
Methodist
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