The obituary of John M. Stringfield (1818-1894), who lived near the site said that he was a charter member of
Mile Branch Baptist Church.

During the early part of 1873, Rev. William G. Stovall came to the Franklinton community from Ball Town, which was located near Pearl River,northeast of the present site of Angie.

Rev. Stovall organized a church and school on the north side of Mile Branch near the present Chester Green home (1977). The church became known as the
Mile Branch Baptist Church. The school organized by Rev. Stovall was the only school in the Franklinton
community at the time. The Franklinton Academy on Spring Street closed at the beginning of the Civil War and had not reopened except for brief periods after the War.


On May 23, 1874, that part of Half-Moon Bluff Baptist Church that did not unite with the Mile Branch Church moved to Hays Creek. The name of the church was changed to Hays Creek Baptist Church.
Franklinton Baptist Church organized at Mile Branch from Half- Moon Bluff membership.

On Feb. 26, 1876 Alfred Richardson, who owned the land on which Mile Branch Baptist Church was located, donated the site to the church. He lived west of the site near the river and near the mouth of Mile Branch.
This partially burned document pertaining to the donation was found by Mrs. Zuma Magee and Mrs. Alma Magee among the records ruined in the fire that destroyed Court House #2 on March 14, 1897. It reads as follows:
"On Feb. 26, 1876, Alfred Richardson of Washington Parish La. came before John K. McLain, Recorder and Ex-officio notary public and in presence of witnesses and did declare and by these present, give, grant, and donated
for the purpose of a school and Baptist Church, unto John Stringfield and W. G. Stovall, Trustees. Said land located near Mile Branch.
Signed: Alfred Richardson, W. G. Stovall, John Stringfield
Attest: John W. Ard and John C. Foil
Recorder, John K. McLain, Feb 26, 1876."

HISTORY OF FRANKLINTON FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,By Daunton Gibbs
1976-1977