Gravelly Run Friends Church - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: 140 Years of Darlington Community History

The Gravelly Run Centennial celebration held in 1942 was to commemorate the locating of the gravelly Run Meeting at the present site. The large gathering bore witness to pleasant associations with the church and the community. It included many grandchildren and great grandchildren of those early active members. One who served Gravelly Run in the years close to 1950 was Lorton Heusel. He has advanced and attained the office of General Sec of Friends United Meeting.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 1 Feb 1890 p 6

Gravelly Run – This neighborhood was settled by the Friends about the year 1832. Timothy Johnson, Lemuel Butler Micajah Peebles being the first settlers, also Samuel Binford of Crawfordsville (who was once a resident of this place). It was by their faithfulness in their generations and their sons in later years that the neighborhood has been in a flourishing condition. For over 55 years church has been continued at this place; winter and summer, rain or shine, twice a week. Church each Sabbath, also church on Wednesday and prayer meeting in the evenings. Of the oldest settlers, only James and Jos. Johnson, Mahlon and Pleasant Butler are left of the many whose faces we were wont to meet in other days.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 16 March 1904 p 4

We mourn the departure of one of Montgomery County’s most respected and substantial citizens. Mahlon Butler, son of Lemuel and Jane Butler, was born in Dinwoody County, Virginia Jan 3, 1821.  With his parents he came to this state when six months old, and to this county in the year 1834.  In 1850 he was united in marriage to Eunice M. Lace to which union were born five children, all of whom with the exception of the youngest son, Charles E. Butler, have preceded him to the better world, together with the wife and mother, who departed this life June 25, 1902.

Mr. Butler was one of the pioneer settlers of this county. Coming while yet the country was an almost unbroken wilderness he learned in the academy of experience the toils and hardships incident in pioneer life and by his labors won from the wilderness one of the best farms in the county.  He was known widely as an industrious hard working, self reliant man of excellent judgement and above all of eminent piety.

He held a birthright membership in the Friends Church and for fifty years was an elder in that organization to all the duties of which he was faithful unto death. As a father, a husband, a citizen and neighbor his memory is blessed and his name is sweet on every tongue. He had no enemies. Honorable and upright in all his dealings, he excited not like cupidity or animonisty of less honorable men but all classes and conditions respected and admired him.  In his presence the habitually unrestrained tongue was tamed and his simple presence was a rebuke to evil thinking.

Mr. Butler had often been called to pass through the valley and drink of the waters of Marah. One by one he had bidden farewell to the members of his family, daughters, son and wife, and though ever the same after the departure of his gentle companion, his soul was not embittered, nor his sublime faith shaken. In his declining years he was tenderly cared for by his devoted son, who remained constantly by him to the end.

Mr. Butler was stricken with paralysis Tuesday evening March 1.  He felt the attack approaching and was led to a chair by his kinswomen and housekeeper who perceived his illness. His mind seemed to be reaching out to the things beyond and he joyously remarked, “How sweet the birds sing. How happy they seem to be, and they are happy for the long winter is passed.”  As a matter of fact the day was not unusually bright nor the song of the birds unusually sweet but there was a song in his soul that communicated itself to things of earth and the light that never was on sea or land alone in his heart to glorify the commonplace as earth receded from his mortal gaze.  He soon lapsed into unconsciousness from which he was not aroused till he passed away on the evening of March 5, 1904. His life lived so perfectly in favor with God and man reached the rare age of 83 years two months and one day. His going is as one who retiree to __ at the close of a long and advanced day of labor. The night has come.  May his rest be sweet till the eternal morning. Blessed are the dead who idle in the Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the spirit that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.