One hundred and seventy eight years ago, before Crittenden County was created from Livingston County, land just off Fords Ferry Road was sold by Bethany Presbyterian Church to a group who wished to start a Baptist Church. This Baptist Church became known as Crooked Creek Missionary Baptist Church. The first building was of log construction. The current building was constructed in 1869 for under $1000 and was dedicated in 1870. People move away and times change. With change comes loss of things once holding a place of importance in our lives. Unfortunately, this is what happened to Crooked Creek Church. Due to declining attendance, the church held its last service on 6 January 2013.
Adjoining the church is a good sized cemetery with tombstones dating back to the 1800s. Among the names inscribed on the tombstones are the following: Conger, Fritts, King, Williams, Horning, Gilbert, Worley, Hollamon, Grisson, Hughes, Clark, Vaughn, Slaton and Wilson. Many of these names will be found in the records of South Carolina or Tennessee before they migrated to Kentucky in search of less expensive land and a brighter future.
My ancestor, John E. Wilson, who died in 1853, lies beneath the soil in the older section of Crooked Creek Cemetery. Buried beside him is his son, Rev. Claiborne Wilson, who died in 1849 at the age of 39 of "New Monia." Other family members are buried nearby.
It's a sad day when any of the old churches close its doors, but especially sad when a church is as old and historic as Crooked Creek.
Published 17 Feb 2013, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
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