CROSSROADS OR PLEASANT GROVE
Compiled and researched by Dr. Dennis Brewer
The first mention we have of a Crossroads Church in Lee County is in the 1871 Minutes of the Booneville Association. At this meeting the church was already established as a member of that Body from the 1870 session of the Irvine Association. The church reported a membership of 36 with the following messengers: Hurem Evans, Hiram Evans, S. Thomas, Wm. Rinkan, P. Thomas and C. A. Quillen.
C. A. Quillen was elected Clerk of the Association at that meeting held with the Beattyville Church. It is possible that Harvey Hall was serving as the Pastor of this church.
In 1873, church membership stood at 33 with Hiram Evans and James Thomas serving as messengers to the Association meeting with Royal Oak church in Owsley County.
In 1875 there is no mention of the Crossroads Church whatsoever but, in 1874 there was a mention of a Pleasant Grove Church with a membership of 32, with one member excluded.
We have been unable to locate Associational Minutes for a very crucial period in the church’s history but, when we do begin once more, we find the Pleasant Grove Church listed in the 1883 Minutes of the Association with Hiram Evans serving as messenger and also Church Clerk. The church had a membership of 32.
Evidently, between the period of 1873-74, the church had made a move from the Crossroads section of Lee County to the Pleasant Grove area of Owsley County.
In 1885 the church reported a membership of 44 but did not send messengers to the Association.
In 1886, the Booneville Association met with the Pleasant Grove Church in September of that year. Messengers from the church to this meeting included: H. Evans, G. Herrington, and C. A. Quillen with a total membership of 31. There were no reported changes in membership through baptism, death, exclusion, letter, etc., thus it is assumed that 31 would have also been the correct membership total for the previous year.
In 1887 the church reported a membership of 64 but did not send messengers.
In 1888 the Association ordered a “minister and deacon meeting on Friday before the first Saturday in November of 1888” to be held with the church at Pleasant Grove. Again the church did not send messengers nor a letter.
We can find no mention of the Pleasant Grove Church in Associational Minutes from that date forward. It is possible that the church dissolved with members entering other churches in the area since we do find Charles Quillen to be in the Organization of the Heidelberg Church in 1898.