Ruckersville Methodist
Elbert County | Organized in 1796
The little white church pictured above stands in the vanished village of Ruckersville, near the Savannah River in Elbert County, one of Georgia’s earliest settlements. Organized in 1796, the church moved to its present site in 1832 when Peter Alexander donated three acres for a new building. Eighteen members of the Alexander family rest in the church cemetery, along with Revolutionary War, Civil War, War of 1812, and WWII veterans. The oldest grave belongs to William Alston (1736–1810), a Lt. Colonel in the NC 3rd Regiment during the Revolutionary War and a delegate to the North Carolina Provincial Congress in 1775.
Read more...Although the current sanctuary was built in 1833, Ruckersville Methodist remains active and well cared for. Updates over the years have preserved its historic character while improving comfort for members. In 1911, the roof pitch was altered for better drainage. In 1950, a front porch was added, the two original doors—once separating men from women and children—were replaced with a single entry, and theater seats from Augusta replaced the benches.
Ruckersville itself was once a bustling early 19th-century community, named for Joseph Rucker (1788–1865). Born in Virginia, he settled near Van’s Creek and became known as “Squire” Rucker, owning up to twelve plantations and earning the title of Georgia’s first millionaire. At its peak, the town boasted fifty stores, two banks, a newspaper, schools, and an academy, serving as a major freight hub along the Savannah River. The area was first settled in 1773 by Virginia families who slowly migrated south, taking up land grants. John Rucker and John White were among the first, with descendants still living in the county. Joseph Rucker, John’s son, left the most lasting mark, shaping the town’s growth and prosperity. Today, little remains of Ruckersville beyond a few cemeteries and this historic church.
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5 responses to “Ruckersville Methodist”
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I’m trying to reach DJ Nestor. He helped us a couple of years ago by cleaning our 4x grandparent’s gravestone. My cousins and I are in California and Idaho so we do not have easy access to your church. We’re looking to see if DJ can help us secure a stainless steel QR code either on or next to the gravesite. We’ve put together a biography that includes William and Annie Banks and we’d like people to be able to read it by using their phone’s QR reader. Please contact me regarding this so that we can discuss your ideas and concerns about doing this.
Regards,
Tony Banks
banks1281@sbcglobal.net
650.218.8083 -
I am the granddaughter of William Rucker. Buried at his homepage. He was grandson of Peter Rucker’of Virginia the Progenitor. I am DAR under William. Colonial dame i wr Peter and Huguenot of Manakin colony Va under Peter William Ruckers daughter Sarah Ann married Andrew Jefferson brown. They’re buried Bethesda in hart Co. their son William Jefferson brown. CSA died war buried Nelson co Ba. Married Saphronis Milla Jane Teasleyv d/o Thomas Jefferson Teasley. Their son Jefferson Jackson Beauregard Briwn was my great grandfather. He married Frances Ellen McConnell. They’re buried confidence Methodist church Avalon Gav .
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A fascinating story of the events of this church and its surrounding history. Ironic that a place that produced Georgia’s first millionaire melted away to cache the remains of its inhabitants and leave little to witness their efforts. It is the way of all mankind, we are merely temporary tenants of the earth and God’s caretakers.
Thank you for this well done story and especially the details of the lives of the former residents. -
excellent, keep up the good work and boy could we all use “some ole time religion” these days.
John Cork -
Incredible. Love it.
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